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Statement from the Bishops Regarding Repeated Acts of Violence in the Southern Macrozone

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At the beginning of their message, the pastors state: "In the early hours of this Wednesday, August 16, an arson attack destroyed a school in the commune of Curacautín and caused serious damage to a Catholic chapel in the Radal Sur area. Shortly before, another attack destroyed an evangelical chapel and a home in the commune of Ercilla, in the Chequenco sector. And most gravely, in the commune of Cañete, Huape sector, farmer David Alejandro González was murdered."

A situation no one deserves to live through
"These violent acts are a source of great sadness and outrage in our country. Unfortunately, they have become commonplace in the so-called Southern Macrozone, and we run the risk of growing accustomed to them, accepting them with an indifferent attitude that has persisted for several years. The people, families, and communities of this area live in a state of insecurity and threat to their lives and property—a situation no one deserves to endure," affirm the representatives of the Episcopate.

Violence is never a legitimate path
They add that, as the Bishops of Chile stated in their recent message"Blessed are those who work for peace," on the 50th anniversary of the Coup d'État: "violence is never a legitimate path: neither to impose or combat ideas, nor as a means to promote social or group political demands, nor as a method to forcibly obtain economic or material benefits."

Continue seeking solutions to the serious problems of La Araucanía
"Along with expressing our solidarity with the affected families and communities, we call on the authorities and all involved parties to make an even greater effort to ensure the safety and protection of individuals and their communities, urgently undertaking the necessary political and administrative decisions to safeguard the Rule of Law. Likewise, we encourage continued efforts to find solutions to the serious problems of La Araucanía, always treating the Mapuche people with fairness and respect," concludes the pastors' statement, praying to the Lord "for the conversion of those who spread terror and destruction with their actions, and we ask for our homeland the gift of peace and fraternity."

Source:www.iglesia.cl