Prayer and Advocacy for Venezuela

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Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange tear down walls that divide and build bridges that unite.  It is a mission of unity and reconciliation in service to the dear neighbor, no matter who they are or where they are.  In alignment with this mission, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange unite with Pope Leo XIV, Pax Christi International, and religious institutes across the United States and around the globe, including the members of the Leadership Conference for Women Religious (LCWR), in response to the crisis in Venezuela.

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We stand with all people whose lives are threatened by violence, war, and hatred. Rooted in our faith, we profess our unwavering belief in the dignity, value, and rights of every human person and our commitment to the sacredness of human life.

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With deep concern for the people of Venezuela, we stand for the consistent teaching of the Church in opposing the use of military force as a means of resolving political and democratic crises. Violence and war do not bring peace; they deepen suffering, destabilize nations, and place the most vulnerable at greatest risk.

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We affirm the power of dialogue, negotiation, and diplomacy over military action. We call upon the United States Congress to exercise its constitutional and moral responsibility to address any use of force that violates our shared commitment to protect and promote human life and the common good.

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We urge the Administration and all members of Congress to cease any military involvement in Venezuela and to support international efforts that foster fair elections, a peaceful transfer of power, and conditions in which democracy can truly flourish. The people of Venezuela deserve the freedom to determine their own future without coercion, violence, or external domination. We recognize that these same threats endanger other countries throughout Latin America, and we affirm our solidarity with all peoples whose sovereignty, dignity, and democratic aspirations are placed at risk by similar forces.

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We call upon people of faith to take action by committing themselves to prayer and advocacy by contacting their elected representatives here: https://maryknollogc.org/action/take-action-to-stop-a-war-on-venezuela/.  Pray for the people of Venezuela and for the discernment of global leaders, that decisions may be guided by wisdom, restraint, respect for human life, and a genuine concern for the common good.