Honduras Bishops Conference
OPEN LETTER TO MISTERS JUAN ORLANDO HERNÁNDEZ AND SALVADOR NASRALLA
Respected citizens:
It is our commitment, as pastors (shepherds) of the Catholic
Church, to promote dialogue and peace on behalf of the common good. We believe
in the value of dialogue and, as Church, we want to accept the recent call at
the national level. For this to be valid (worthwhile), it ought to include two
important characteristics: (1) that it be “sincere, effective, creative, without
conditions, and involve all sectors of society,” as we affirmed in our
communiqué od December 20, 2017; and (2) that it have palpable objectives to resolve
fundamental matters, which can be achieved in the short term, with concrete
commitments to fulfill them by the political actors of our country.
The post-election situation of Honduras, categorized as a
political crisis, is known at the national level and is the cause of international
concern. In the face of this recognized situation, we cannot no ought we
prolong a crisis which paralyzes the country and which does not bring about
profound changes in the heart of the society. The way out is an inclusive
dialogue, with the presence of representatives of all sectors of society and a
dialogue by means of an analysis of all the challenges which urgently needed to
be responded to, for the purpose of overcoming the current crisis which has
broken out [been unchained] since the elections of last November 26.
The absence of dialogue between the two of you deepens the
political crisis in the country, which will make unfeasible the great dialogue
which the population supports and hopes for. If, in the short term, real,
rational, and altruistic agreements aren’t achieved, the violence will escalate,
there wlll be more military and political repression, and the number of
fatalities [dead victims] will increase; the country’s economy will be
paralyzed, poverty will increase, the population will be even more divided,
which could lead to a situation of ungovernability.
Because of all this, respectfully and earnestly [from our
hearts], we ask you to sit down to talk to find ways out of this situation full
of anxieties, or that you accept arbitration mediated by one of the
institutions of which Honduras is a member, to facilitate a political dialogue which
is sincere and without conditions, which reconciles [conciliates] positions
without political advantages for anyone, for the purpose of arriving at
decisions which better benefit all the society. If you do this, you will be
giving an authentic [good faith] demonstration of love for Honduras.
We believe that this means would make possible the necessary
and urgent dialogue which all of us hope for.
We ask the Lord to illumine your minds and soften your
hearts so that you can find paths toward the reconciliation which ur country
needs.
Tegucigalpa, January 15, 2018
Attentively,
The Honduran Bishops Conference
