Venezuelan cardinal calls for ‘fair and respectful’ regional elections

The Archbishop of Caracas, Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino, said this week the Church hopes that the regional elections set for November 23 will take place with fairness and respect for all the candidates. “We have called for these elections to take place with respect, and we will continue to reiterate this call because verbal violence, insults and offenses are not in harmony with the spirit that should reign among Venezuelans,” the cardinal said. “There needs to be respect between all sectors of society and this is the message we are sending to all the participants of this election, which is undoubtedly very important for Venezuela,” he stressed. He noted that while bishops and priests should not be political, “we cannot lock ourselves in the sacristy,” because “we have something to say with respect to human rights, freedom, justice, and the truth that should prevail among all Venezuelans.”