Congratulations to the small majority of the Venezuelan people who rejected the Constitutional reform proposed in August which would have established an official Socialist State in that nation - a development which had been quite predictable. Despite all the pressure of an almost-omnipotent government and the severe limitations of free speech in the Chávez regime, Venezuelans listened, among others, to the wise words of their Bishops, who repeatedly warned the people of the dangers of such a change - and were insulted and humiliated for it.
Pope Benedict reminded Catholics of the dangers of the Marxist State and of the fundamental error of Marxist "hopes" in his latest encyclical letter:
Pope Benedict reminded Catholics of the dangers of the Marxist State and of the fundamental error of Marxist "hopes" in his latest encyclical letter:
...Marx had spoken of the interim phase of the dictatorship of the proletariat as a necessity which in time would automatically become redundant. This “intermediate phase” we know all too well, and we also know how it then developed, not ushering in a perfect world, but leaving behind a trail of appalling destruction. Marx not only omitted to work out how this new world would be organized—which should, of course, have been unnecessary. His silence on this matter follows logically from his chosen approach. His error lay deeper. He forgot that man always remains man. He forgot man and he forgot man's freedom. He forgot that freedom always remains also freedom for evil. He forgot man and he forgot man's freedom. He forgot that freedom always remains also freedom for evil. He thought that once the economy had been put right, everything would automatically be put right. His real error is materialism: man, in fact, is not merely the product of economic conditions, and it is not possible to redeem him purely from the outside by creating a favourable economic environment. (Spe Salvi, 21)
The Bishops of Venezuela had asked for the protection of the Patron of that nation (the beautiful Virgin of Coromoto, who holds in her arms the King of the Universe) in their warnings against the Constitutional changes. She did not fail.
Virgen de Coromoto, pray for Venezuela! Pray for Latin America!
