Latin American bishops call for regional co-operation in face of Covid-19 crisis

CELAM Presidents

Source: CELAM

The presidency of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM) has called for regional integration and cooperation in order to seek solutions to the Covid-19 crisis.

In a letter addressed to the leaders and governments of Latin America and the Caribbean, they invite the people and the scientific community to build joint solutions to overcome the current difficulties. The bishops say this process needs political will to be achieved. They unite in prayer so that it is God who inspires their intelligence to achieve this goal.

They also suggested that this proactive attitudeshould not only be applied to problems generated by Covid-19; but must be applied in the future to further challenges the continent will have to face. The Church dreams of a fully integrated and mutually supportive Latin American and Caribbean 'Great Homeland'.

The letter recalls that according to the World Health Organization, to date more than 200,000 people have died in Latin America and the Caribbean and five billion have been infected with Covid-19. The forecast is of more than 215 million people in a state of poverty during the next few months, that is, 35% of the population. A scandalous fact that makes noise in the conscience of the Church.

The situation of the most vulnerable worries the continental Church to which is added the violence and fear that threatens the freedom of all peoples, a circumstance that aggravates the soul of our "Great Homeland ".

For all this, the Bishops add, inside they feel the echo of the words of the Holy Father in the General Audience of August 19: " t is essential to find the cure for a small but terrible virus that brings everyone to their knees in the world, " but also"we have to cure a great virus, that of social injustice, inequality of opportunities, marginalization and the lack of protection of the weakest."

Although the presidency of the Latin American Episcopal Council recognizes the efforts of the entire scientific community to obtain a vaccine against this virus, they warned that "vaccines must be shown to be safe and ethically tested. The traditional medical warning of primum non nocere, or the first thing is to do no harm," should always guide scientists - according to the Health Association of the United States.

Referring to those responsible for the decisions that affect the common good, the Latin American Episcopal Council calls on the leaders and governors of Latin America to seek solutions together with all peoples, always in unity and fraternity.

CELAM calls for all contribute to the construction of a "Great Homeland" that we all dream of. They hope that the entire scientific community will take joint actions in research centres, laboratories and drug production, so we can also face the so-called 'invisible diseases', the result of deficit and unfair socio-economic conditions, which cause more deaths than Covid-19.

As we already know, the crisis caused by Covid-19; revealed the shortcomings of the social structures where poverty is increasing for most of the peoples of our Latin America and the Caribbean, therefore it is urgent that economists and scientists look for a new "vaccine" against the social structures that are sick.

"We must not see everything as a curse or punishment from God but rather as the result of "structural sin and ecological sin "that affect our region and that we must overcome together. We urge that public policies always bear in mind, first of all, the men and women of our land and especially the poorest. We claim it in the name of God!"

Finally, they remember that the Church will always be committed to the reconstruction of the Latin American and Caribbean social fabric and to a particular pastoral dedication to the defence and care of life; especially that of the most vulnerable and excluded.

LINK

https://prensacelam.org/2020/08/23/carta-del-celam-a-lideres-y-gobernantes-ante-crisis-del-covid-19/