MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Catholic Church expresses concern over corruption and poverty in Argentina

Monsignor Jorge Lozano: “we have a good dialogue with the government”

The Argentine Catholic church expressed concern over the “important level of corruption” in the country and warned about the disturbing inequality and extended poverty.

“The Church is concerned with the levels of corruption in the country, which are not new, it goes back decades. Argentina is ranked between second and third among the (most corrupt) countries in Latin America”, said Monsignor Jorge Lozano, president of the Episcopal Commission for the Social Pastoral speaking in the name of the Catholic Church.

Monsignor Lozano made the statements after holding a meeting with the chairman of one of Argentina’s organized labour CGT groups, Hugo Barrionuevo with whom he exchanged ideas about the social situation in the country.

Although relations were strained for several years the government of President Cristina Fernandez and the Catholic Church last November opened a new chapter in bilateral relations based on “a standing dialogue” and leaving aside the “mutual mistrust” of the recent past.

“This is a constructive view of current Argentina, and I can say that we have a good fluid dialogue with the government”, said the bishop.

Precisely the turning point occurred when Santa Fe province archbishop Jose Maria Arancedo was named head of the Argentine Episcopal Conference replacing Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio whom the governments of the Kirchner couple (Nestor and Cristina) always identified as the spiritual leader of the opposition.

Arancedo had an interview with President Cristina Fernandez at Government House (Casa Rosada), a day after his proclamation. Since that first protocol meeting, the gestures of goodwill have been repeated and there has been no direct confrontation on current issues, as usually happened with Bergoglio.

“Many people are no longer poor, but many remain and there is much to be done for the excluded because national income has not been distributed with equality and fairness”, said Bishop Lozano.

He also underlined that “half of the workers don’t have proper registration which means no access to social benefits, to pensions in the future, and there is slave labour exploiting immigrant workers. More fairness, more homes are needed and therefore we must continue working in social issues, and the Church wants to help with dialogue that can open paths to overcome the situation”, concluded Lozano.