Bishops question law that would violate seal of confession in Venezuela

Various Venezuelan bishops are criticizing a new law on national intelligence that would force all Venezuelans to act as informants. Cardinal Jorge Urosa of Caracas has reacted to the law by warning that the law would endanger the seal of confession. The law states that citizens who refuse to take part in intelligence operations could be charged by the government. Human rights groups, judges and journalists warn that the new law would create a society of spies and contains vague clauses that would be open to all kinds of abuse by authorities. Cardinal Urosa said the law may violate human rights enshrined in the country’s Constitution. “We are going to study it in detail, because it is essential that constitutionality be respected, especially in the areas that have to do with the human, civil, and political rights of all Venezuelans.”