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Faith demands that Christians be agents of social justice, say Chilean bishops

Catholic prelates demand an end to “social insecurity” after a rejection of a new constitution led to a political, social and economic crisis affecting the daily life of people

La Croix International

It is imperative that those who profess the Christian faith become active protagonists for social justice and societal changes that Chile needs, say Catholic bishops in the Andean country.

"We want to encourage all initiatives that lead to social dialogue, civic friendship and the common good, especially the constituent process, which requires recognition and listening to all sectors. Those of us who profess the Christian faith are called to be active protagonists of the changes that Chile needs, encouraging the instances of solidarity present in society that work for social justice", read a statement issued at the end of the November 14 to 18 plenary assembly of the Bishops' Conference of Chile.  

"We perceive the seriousness of social insecurity, violence and crime experienced by so many of our compatriots and some of our communities. We are aware of the economic and spiritual precariousness of so many families, plagued by inflation and discouragement. We are witnesses of hopelessness in many young people and adults. We also encourage the integration of migrants into our society," the Catholic bishops said expressing the hope that their message would encourage “ecclesial renewal and also to commit ourselves to the path of conversion."

The Chilean bishops said they are committed to a path of conversion and to encourage and guide the communities to continue deepening the synodal processes. Hence, they approved the way "to implement in Chile the institution of the ministry of the Catechist, as proposed by Pope Francis in the document Antiquum Ministerium". Each diocese will have to discern with the faithful who can be called to this lay ministry, "which is especially at the service of the animation and conduction of the processes of Christian initiation and ongoing formation in our communities."

Appeal for dialogue and civic friendship to all people of good will

Chilean society is presently is undergoing a tumultuous period. A majority of Chileans voted to reject the draft of the new constitution in a referendum called by the country's newly elected progressive President Gabriel Boric, 36, a left-leaning former student leader, who assumed office in March when Chile was planning to create a new constitution.

Over 60% of the people on September 4 voted to reject the new constitution that was three years in the making and which was supposed to replace the constitution imposed by General Augusto Pinochet 42 years ago. The new constitution includes social and ecological factors, a new national healthcare system and enshrines the rights of Chile's indigenous peoples. Catholic bishops in Chile had always wanted that the draft of the new constitution be reviewed in light of the Social Doctrine of the Church, advocating that the constitution provide an adequate social and legal framework to build peace, solidarity and justice in the country.

Chile had held a referendum in October 2020, which resulted in favor of carrying out a constitutional reform, approved by nearly eight out of ten votes, in which around 78 percent of eligible voters participated. It was the culmination of a long process that began with popular protests in October 2019 throughout the country, protests that had caused many deaths.

Elections were then held to choose constituents to rewrite and replace the constitution that was drafted in 1980 under strongman president Pinochet, and which critics have blamed for long-standing socioeconomic inequalities in the South American nation. However, the rejection of the new constitution text has led to a deeply polarized country of 19 million people, even as the bishops' conference’s Justice and Peace Commission, made up of lay men and women, published a reflection on the national reality. Their appeal was for dialogue and civic friendship to all people of good will, "in the context of a political, social and economic crisis that affects the daily life of people, especially the most vulnerable".