AMERICA/NICARAGUA - OAS Observer in Nicaragua, the Bishops call for authentic dialogue

Wednesday, 26 October 2016 politics   democracy   episcopal conferences   elections  

Managua (Agenzia Fides) – The General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS) has officially accepted a formal invitation from the government of Nicaragua to visit the country, on 5, 6 and 7 November, to meet experts and state bodies involved in the electoral process. On November 6, in fact 3.4 million Nicaraguans will be called to the polls to elect the President of the Republic and 90 deputies of the National Assembly, (see Fides 05/10/2016).
The Bishops of Nicaragua have expressed their opinion on the matter, according to the note sent to Fides. "We believe that dialogue is the best method and the Church always defends this civil approach - said His Exc. Mgr. Jorge Solórzano, Bishop of Granada and spokesman of the Catholic Bishops Conference -. We are praying for it to be true dialogue and not political traps, but authentic and inclusive dialogue".
These statements were expressed by the spokesman of the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua (CEN) in a brief meeting with the press yesterday, and were accompanied by the intervention of Vice-President of CEN, His Exc. Mgr. César Bosco Vivas Robelo, Bishop of Leon en Nicaragua: "We want authentic dialogue, not a monologue to gain time, as seen in the past many times; it should be dialogue that seeks the common good".
The question asked by journalists concerning the Bishops’ vote for the presidential elections on November 6th, Mgr. Solórzano replied: "We are in a period of reflection", and Mgr. Silvio Jose Baez, concluded: "The Bishops of Nicaragua do not invite to vote, but to decide according to their conscience whether to vote or not". (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 26/10/2016)


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