Church and society are persecuted.

Caracas -- In February 2003, Archbishop Baltasar Porras Cardoza of Merida, president of the Venezuelan Conference of Bishops, stated that a non-violence agreement between the government of Hugo Chavez and his opposition will not change anything; what is needed is a "change of leaders" (N.C. Register, March 9). In an interview with Zenit on May 15, 2003, Archbishop Porras described how Chavez supporters were trying to instill fear throughout the country. In his own diocese in the two weeks before Holy Week there were 12 robberies of churches, with tabernacles destroyed. "They weren't real robberies because their objective was to destroy," he stated.

Chavez, a former paratrooper who a decade ago attempted a coup d'etat, promotes the so-called "Bolivarian Revolutionary Plan". Archbishop Porras described it as "a curious and explosive mixture, which includes populism, militarism, totalitarianism, outdated Marxism, and other 'isms'. This is why it is important, from the point of view of our faith and of our religious role, that we believers have very clearly in mind the values we work for and serve, so as not to fall prey through naivete."

In September, Hugo Chavez launched his most direct attack yet on the country's leading bishops. It followed an episcopal directive handed out to the faithful on the Sundays of September 14 and 21. In a televised address Chavez accused the bishops of "lying shamelessly" and of plotting to overthrow him (Tablet, Sept. 27). The bishops have continued to point out the deteriorating economic situation affecting every stratum of society and, in return, Chavez has verbally attacked them. He has also rejected any attempt to bring in the bishops as mediators, despite the Church's high level of credibility.

In November, Archbishop Waldo Santana of Maracaibo accused the government of discrediting the bishops because they have openly criticized the administration's social and economic record over the past four years.