MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Catholic Church insists 40% of Argentines live in poverty

The gap between poor and rich is unacceptable, said Bishop Casaretto.

The Argentine Catholic Church insisted on Tuesday that 40% of the population is poor or living below the poverty line and the gap between rich and poor is “scandalous”. The statement comes when Argentine bishops are meeting in Buenos Aires,

The controversy has been boosted and moved into the Argentine political arena following statements from Pope Benedict XVI who appealed to similar language to describe the situation.

“The bishops will address the issue and will make a report”, said the Episcopate spokesperson Jorge Oesterheld. “For us the poverty index is closer to 40% and the difference between the richest (Argentines) and the poorest is unacceptable, it’s a scandal”

Oesterheld said that Episcopate standing commission which is headed by Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio will “exchange ideas” on the situation in which the most vulnerable sectors of society are living.

One of the experts on social policies Bishop Jorge Casaretto will make an “assessment” of the poverty situation.

“His recent statements helped understand how much the poverty issue concerns Argentine public opinion”, added the spokesperson.

An official declaration could be forthcoming next Thursday at the end of the Catholic Church hierarchy meeting, following deliberations.

The bishops meeting which had been scheduled for months will address the poverty issue working on Casaretto’s initiative of making combating poverty the great Argentine national challenge for the bi-centenary celebrations in 2010.

Casaretto also pointed out the “minimum relevance and dedication” which poverty attracts from the “political establishment” both from the ruling coalition and the opposition.

Other controversial issues to be debated by Argentine bishops include the sexual education texts for teachers showing how to address the issue with students; an Argentine government initiative not to criminalize drugs personal consumption and several administrative matters.