[NYTr] By Opposing Reforms for Justice, Catholic Clergy Spurn Christ: Chavez

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Prensa Latina, Havana
http://www.plenglish.com

By Opposing Reforms for Justice, Catholic Clergy Spurn Christ: Chavez

Caracas, Oct 31 (Prensa Latina) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
accused top Catholic leaders of his country of separating from the true
principles of Christianity when opposing a constitutional reform
that seeks for greater social justice.

When speaking in an event to celebrate a new anniversary of the National
Institute of Woman, Chavez indicated that the ones against the proposal
are almost the same sectors that supported the coup d'etat on April 11,
2002.

In relation to critics of the Venezuelan Episcopal Council, which
described the project as morally unacceptable, Venezuelan President
indicated that if Christ were alive here, he would physically flogged
them to get them out of there.

Chavez also rejected threats of company sectors that demanded the
suspension of the reform and he requested to those who promote violence
to reconsider their decision.

Chavez also requested his followers to be able to give the campaign in
favor of the reform with unity, with views to a referendum to approve
or reject the proposal on December 2.

For this purpose, he said, we must convince the absolute majority of
the benefits of the reform, which will allow to go to other horizons in
the fight for social equality, against poverty and for the sovereignty
and the defense of the country.

The reform proposed by Chavez is aimed at laying the constitutional
foundations of a socialist development system, as it was proposed in
the electoral campaign that guaranteed 2007-2013 Presidential mandate,
with 61 percents of the votes.

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Chavez Suggests Reform Voting on Reforms by Section

Caracas, Oct 31 (Prensa Latina) President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez has
suggested to consider a voting by sections of the draft constitutional
reform oriented to consolidate the construction of socialism.

Speaking on occasion of the eighth anniversary of the Institute of
Women (INAMUJER) on Wednesday, Chavez said that taking into account
articles approved by the legislative body, the first 33 of them might
be grouped in one section.

The 25 articles added by the Joint Commission as a result of broad
popular consultation countrywide, and the 11 articles approved during
the third and last discussion in Parliament might be divided into one
or more sections.

In this regard, the Venezuelan president said he was submitting this
proposal to the National Assembly in its capacity as proponent of the
project of changes to the Magna Carta.

After the approval of the 15 provisional stipulations and 69 articles,
the initiative is ready for final assessment in the plenary of
Parliament on Friday, November 2.

Also on Friday, they will be handed over to the National Electoral
Council (CNE), in charge of calling a referendum to endorse the
proposal.

December 2 has been considered as the probable date for the
consultation, taking into account the 30-day deadline requirement from
the moment the project is sanctioned and presented before the CNE.

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