User:Aiboland/Evo Morales and the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church drew most of its support from the cities and little from the higher rural areas (where Morales draws his primary support) due to "a lack of resources and to indigenous cultural resistance to Church efforts to replace traditional attitudes."

Suggestion: The Catholic Church drew most of its support from the cities and little from the higher rural areas (where Morales drew his primary support) due to limited assets and the prevalence of traditional indigenous culture.

Morales, like many rural Bolivians, was raised with a combination of Catholicism and belief in "the Pachamama or Mother Earth figure, as well as on Ekeko, a traditional, indigenous god of luck, harvests, and general abundance."

Suggestion: Morales, like many rural Bolivians, was raised with a combination of Catholicism and belief in the Pachamama in addition to Ekeko.

Other indigenous leaders, such as Felix Patzi, follow a pure indigenous faith and "discard all forms of Christianity; however, this effort has not led to a significant increase in the number of 'indigenous-belief only' worshippers."

Suggestion: Other indigenous leaders, such as Felix Patzi, follow a pure indigenous faith and rejects Christianity. Even though there are leaders within this faith, there has not been a shift amongst Bolivians to become 'indigenous-belief only'.

In his Sunday homily, the cardinal assured people that they were "not seeking or fighting to achieve such a goal."

Suggestion: In his Sunday homily, the cardinal assured people that they were not championing the installation of Catholicism as the national religion.

He noted that the bishops were "open to proposals to review" the Bolivian Constitution's article which granted special recognition to the role of Catholicism.

Suggestion: He noted that the bishops were receptive to notions of review to the Bolivian Constitution's article which granted special recognition to the role of Catholicism.

The Church was "not afraid of Bolivia becoming a secular state," but those calling for secularism "are hiding their other intentions" to strip Bolivia of religion and "order a country in such a way that God is not present."

Suggestion: The Church was not worried that Bolivia would become a secular state, but those calling for secularism have ulterior motives to strip Bolivia of religion and not having the presence of God.

At the seizure party loyalists declared that they were taking only the "unproductive lands of the Church",.

Suggestion: At the seizure, party loyalists declared that they were taking only the land that the Church was not utilizing.

On January 18, 2007, Fr. Freddy del Villar, Vicar General of the Coroicu Diocese in Bolivia, said that the Catholic Church "remains vigilant" concerning the socialist Morales government. He said they were still reserving judgment on the upcoming revision to the Bolivian Constitution. "The Church is worried, but at the same time optimistic about the new constitution the Morales administration is preparing. The party of Evo Morales is socialist: For example, it says it wants to have a non-confessional education or that religion is not important. But let us see what comes out of the new constitution when it will be finished in August." He declared that with factions in Bolivia seemingly attempting to "disintegrate Bolivia's unity" ... "The Church helps to maintain unity in the country."

Suggestion: On January 18, 2007, Fr. Freddy del Villar, Vicar General of the Coroicu Diocese in Bolivia, said that the Catholic Church is keeping observant concerning the socialist Morales government and were still reserving judgment on the upcoming revision to the Bolivian Constitution. Though the Church is concerned, it remains confident about the improved constitution being prepared by the Morales administration. Fr. Freddy del Villar declared that with factions in Bolivia seemingly attempting to chip away at the unity of Bolivia and the Church plays a role in maintaining said unity.

In early June 2006, the Bolivian Education Minister Felix Patzi told reporters that under the Morales administration, "education will emphatically be secular and no longer Catholic. Religion classes will now be optional instead of obligatory. There will be a course on the history of religions: indigenous, Arabic, or Catholic."

Suggestion: In early June 2006, the Bolivian Education Minister Felix Patzi told reporters that under the Morales administration, education will no longer have a sole focus on Catholicism and will become secular. Instead of religious classes being mandatory it will be optional. Along with this, there will be a focused on the history of religions, those being Indigenous, Arabic, or Catholic.

Immediately after Patzi's statements, Archbishop Tito Solari of Cochabamba said the Morales government must be consistent when it talks about respecting beliefs, which "implies respecting the Catholic beliefs of the majority of Bolivians."

Suggestion: Immediately after Patzi's statements, Archbishop Tito Solari of Cochabamba said the Morales government must be consistent when it talks about respecting beliefs, which means respecting that a majority of Bolivians believe in Catholicism.

She said, "We are anxious, not out of fear but out of concern, that the administration defines its position in order to begin the dialogue."

Suggestion: She claimed that the Committee was eager, out of concern, that the administration come to a definitive position to open up a dialogue.

She accused the socialist Morales administration of having an anti-faith bias. "I think the problem is not with the Church, but with the faith of the people who are 80% Catholic."

Suggestion: She accused the Morales administration of having an anti-faith bias and having an issue with the faith of Catholic Bolivians, which is 80% of the population, rather than the Church itself.

After the bishops' statements, Morales stressed that "religion courses would not be eliminated from public schools".

Suggestion: After the bishops' statements, Morales stressed that courses on the topic of religion were not going to be removed from public schools.

He warned them that "Great wars began with small theories ... with this discourse of hate, rancor... of unforgiveness."

Suggestion: He warned that wars have started because of small theories coupled with vices such as hate, rancor, and unforgiveness.

Quiroga said, "that such rhetoric should be avoided because it only brings negative consequences."

Suggestion: Quiroga cautioned that the use of that rhetoric must not be used since it incurs negative consequences

Bishop Jesus Juarez of El Alto, together with Auxiliary Bishop Luis Sainz of Cochabamba, said that not only do parochial schools have a fundamental right to offer instruction according to their own confession but that in state schools "the parents should be able to choose which type of religious instruction their children will receive."

Suggestion: Bishop Jesus Juarez of El Alto, together with Auxiliary Bishop Luis Sainz of Cochabamba, said that not only do parochial schools have a fundamental right to offer instruction according to their own confession but that in state schools parents must have the ability to determine which religious course their children attend.

The Associated Press reported that in a joint statement "that mentioned religious diversity but made no provision for broadening the scope of the solely Catholic curriculum taught in Bolivia's schools", both men said, "The government and the Catholic church agree to preserve the course on religion, respecting the existing religious diversity in the country."

Suggestion: The Associated Press reported that in a joint statement that had discussed diversity of religion but did not provide a way to deviate from predominant Catholic curriculum that is already taught in Bolivian state schools. Both men came to the consensus that both the Morales administration and the Church would retain the religious classes while also taking into consideration the diversity of religion within the country.

In response, Church representatives "warned that all of the advances made by the Church could be lost" if the State were to take over the covenant schools and rallied to oppose any such proposals.

Suggestion: In response, Church representatives cautioned that advancements made by the Catholic Church could be lost if the State were to take over the covenant schools and rallied to oppose any such proposals.