Papal Nuncio to Venezuela, Monsignor Andre Dupuy has called on the Venezuelan government to moderate its use of language when referring to the Venezuelan Catholic Church, insisting that not one Church representative in Venezuela has used offensive language against the President.
"The government should use more human and courteous language to refer to the bishops and the ecclesiastical institution."
Relations between the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference (CEV) and the government have entered another tense stage this week after the CEV issued a statement a few days ago criticizing the government's confiscation of Globovision 24-hours news outlet instruments and supporting families of former Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) employees evicted from company houses, as well as attacking Lara State Police for raiding church premises in Barquisimeto.
Movimiento Quinta Republica (MVR) National Assembly deputy, Juan Barreto replied, launching a bitter attack on the Church accusing it of echoing exaggerated news reports from international organs against the government.
Journalist Barreto says he takes exception to the content of the CEV's document " airing Venezuela's problems internationally in an irresponsible and unfounded manner."
The Papal Nuncio made his statement during a visit to Carora (Lara) to the shrine of Our Lady of Chiquinquira. Commenting on the CEV document, Monsignor Dupuy insists that it's an X-Ray of what is happening in Venezuela ... "The Church has always been on the side of the poor and human rights."