Central American bishops want dialogue on Honduras

Writing on behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of Albany, N.Y., sent a letter July 16 to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, urging continuing efforts to help the people of Honduras peacefully resolve the political crisis in their country.

Bishop Hubbard, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, cited a letter of solidarity sent by Chicago Cardinal Francis George, president of the USCCB, to Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez and the Bishops’ Conference of Honduras. Referring to statements by Pope Benedict XVI, who has shown his concern for the situation in Honduras and has called for patient dialogue, mutual understanding, and reconciliation to create conditions to “ensure peaceful coexistence and authentic democratic life” in that country.

Bishop Hubbard also mentioned that the US Bishops have united themselves to those of Honduras and called for “dialogue and reconciliation among the Honduran people” and for “external support 'without unilateral pressures' in order to achieve a just and peaceful resolution.”

The Bishop then mentions that the Catholic Church in the US has been encouraged by the support for the mediation progress begun by President Oscar Arias of Costa Rica.
“We urge you to continue to support this effort and to take all other appropriate steps, as necessary, to help the people of Honduras resolve the present crisis in peace and justice and, in the words of the Holy Father, to create the conditions for 'peaceful coexistence and authentic democratic life,'” the statement said.
Honduras has been engaged in a profound political process since June 28, when Manuel Zelaya was expelled from power in a coups and Congress appointed Roberto Micheletti, who is not internationally recognized.

On July 19, the second intent for dialogue between the delegates of the overthrown President and the new governor, Roberto Micheletti, mediated by President Oscar Arias of Costa Rica, failed. This event has left Honduras's people divided over the efficiency of this effort in placing an end to the conflict. The dialogue between the delegations of Honduras gathered in Costa Rica failed after Micheletti's group rejected the proposal presented on Saturday by the mediator and president of the country, Oscar Arias.
Zelaya has assured that he will begin organizing his return to Honduras beginning on Wednesday if the diplomatic actions underway in the international community do not restore him to power by that day. However, Micheletti's government assured that it will continue dialoguing through the mediation of Arias, in spite of the absence of an agreement.

Archbishop Leopoldo Brenes of Managua, who is currently in San Salvador leading a meeting of the SEDAC reviewing the organizational details for a meeting of Bishops from Central America which will take place in November 2009 in Guatemala, has asked that Honduras's people work as hard as they can in dialoguing to reach a resolution to the crisis following the coups d'etat. He also affirmed that the Catholic Church in Central America shows its “closeness” with “the Bishops and people of Honduras.”

He asks that they use “all the necessary means in finding a solution” to the crisis, especially in “dialogue.” “Central America has experience” in these matters, he said, thanks to the conflicts it has suffered, “but in the end, we have solved them all sitting down to talk.” According to Archbishop Brenes, “dialogue is hard at times” but it is the best solution for solving our problems. The Archbishop expressed his hope that a peaceful solution may be found to the crisis, and that no more people will die. He also made an appeal to Central American society to collaborate, “so that peace, reconciliation, and fraternity may be established in the region.

Source: Fides