Argentine Church calls on government and opposition not to take advantage of Malvinas dispute

Monday, February 13th 2012 - 05:33 UTC

Full article 37 comments

Archbishop Jose Maria Arancedo: “this is a matter of state and not only of the government”

The Argentine Catholic Church supports the country’s claim over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands but also called on the Executive and the rest of the Argentine leadership not to use the Malvinas issue with a political purpose.

“This is a matter of state and not only of the government, so nobody not even the ruling coalition or the position, should take advantage of such a delicate situation which makes to the future of all Argentines”, said the head of the Argentine Episcopal Conference, CEA, Jose Maria Arancedo, that represents almost a hundred bishops in Argentina.

“I heard the President’s address (last Tuesday) and how important it is that we give peace a chance,” Arancedo told reporters. “Therefore, I believe that both the call for sovereignty claim and the diplomatic path chosen to pursue it are a step in the right direction.”

The statements of the Archbishop of Santa Fe, who succeeded Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio as head of the Argentine Church, come at a time of escalating diplomatic tensions between the UK and Argentina on the verge of the 30th anniversary of the armed conflict between the two countries.

Arancedo did not enter into details of the ‘UK militarization’ claims (including nuclear arms) which Argentine launched this week however he insisted that the “correct path” in international forums “can be long and tiresome”, but nothing turns from black to white overnight but “it is always important to be able to walk and advance”.

Likewise the Latin American Jewish council sent a letter to Foreign Affaire minister Hector Timerman saying it expects the conflict to be solved through negotiations. Similarly the Evangelic Baptist convention informed Timerman it was praying so that the UK can be convinced to recognize the Argentine sovereignty over the Malvians, and the Evangelic Methodists rejected the growing ‘militarization’ of the Malvinas Islands by the UK and “any war possibility” from the Argentine government. It also called on the British Methodists to intercede in the help of a fair solution.

But political sources quoted in the Buenos Aires media also argued that the current escalation of the conflict helps the administration of President Cristina Fernandez to minimize the impact of the progressive annulment of subsidies to public utilities (such as drinking water, energy, gas and …inflation.

Categories: Politics, Argentina, Falkland Islands, International.

Tags: Argentina, Argentine Catholic Church, Falkland Islands, Falklands / Malvinas, Jorge Bergoglio, Jose Maria Arancedo, United Kingdom.

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Feathers McGraw
Argie government using the Falklands for political purposes? Now THAT would surely *never* happen............!!!!!!!!
Feb 13th, 2012 - 10:04 am 0
Teaboy2
Nothing against catholics, but religion has no place in politics and the fact this guy and the agentine church are in support of argentinas claim regardless of the wishes of the islanders, is exactly why religion need to keep its nose out of politics. Seriously some of these priest still think they can act like they did back in the times of the papal bull, and dictate to people what is good for them and what is not. In fact, i very much doubt the pope supports this priests statements in support of the argentine claim. Priest should stand up for people, regardless of nationality, not toe the line of state policies. After all, all people are gods people, including the islanders so why should the islanders wishes not be respected, whilst the argentinian peoples wishes are respected? Also god gave know land to a few, he gave it to all.

And the ten commandmants apply to nations just as it does to people too, especially these 2 - “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.” and “ thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, *nor any thing that is thy neighbour's*” in other words, thy shall not lie about your neighbours, nor should you try to claim your neighbours land and possessions. Perhaps this priest needs remind of that along with the rest of the argentines that support argentinas claim.
Feb 13th, 2012 - 10:26 am 0
O gara
Teaboy when your Queen is no longer head of the Church of England and members of the Winsor family are allowed to marry Catholics then and perhaps only then can you start giving your holier than thou nonsense
Feb 13th, 2012 - 12:49 pm 0

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