Brazil bishops ask protests to be peaceful on Sunday

After three days of meetings, representatives from the Permanent Council of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) issued a statement Thursday (Mar. 10), in Brasília, asking protests scheduled for next Sunday to be peaceful. The bishops also warn of the risk of the Brazilian political polarization and point out the importance of respect for different points of view in a democracy.

CNBB considers unacceptable to have parties "feeding" the country's economic crisis with the current political crisis, and noted that Congress and political parties have the "ethical duty to promote and strengthen governance."

CNBB's President Bishop Sergio da Rocha, asked to "preserve the country's constitutional order. All the actions need to obey the law and respect the Constitution," he said, noting that the CNBB takes no partisan position.

CNBB's Vice-president Bishop Murilo Krieger said that to keep peace in Brazil, everybody needs to collaborate. He pointed out that "Congress has the duty to ensure that the country follows a good path, with just laws. The parties, whether they are governing or in the opposition, have an important role in society for their position of strength. And if a country like ours suddenly become ungovernable, it will become difficult to talk about social peace."

Bishop Krieger expressed concern about the country's current situation. "We know that there are moments when people cannot use good judgment. And we understand that this can suddenly happen," he said, arguing that every citizen seeking only to defend their own point of view “so vehemently”, forgetting their respect for the others and for the institutions,  will end up mutually hurting themselves.

The statement issued by bishops also defends thorough investigation into corruption suspicions in the country. "We need to fully probe or justice will not be done," said Bishop Sergio da Rocha.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta