US embassy cable - 05CARACAS2326

C O N F I D E N T I A L  CARACAS 002326 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PREL, KIRF, VE 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH CATHOLIC CHURCH LEADERS 
 
REF: CARACAS 2206 
 
CLASSIFIED BY ACTING DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION JOHN CREAMER 1.5 
(D) 
 
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Summary: 
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1. (C) In a July 29 meeting with retired Cardinal Castillo 
Lara and Catholic Bishops Conference President Archbishop 
Porras, the Ambassador recognized the growing tension between 
the Catholic Church and the GOV, and offered United States 
support for any statements or actions taken by the Church in 
defense of human rights, democracy or social justice.  The 
United States is also prepared to provide financial aid to 
Church social programs, especially in poor areas.  Porras and 
Castillo welcomed the possibility of United States funding 
for Catholic social programs, and reiterated the Catholic 
Church's commitment to defending democracy and human rights. 
Castillo criticized Chavez' dictatorial rule and said the 
Church will continue to denounce his undemocratic actions. 
Porras said he will be in Washington September 7-8 and would 
be open to meeting with U.S. officials.  End Summary 
 
 
2. (C) Ambassador Brownfield met July 29 with retired 
Catholic Cardinal Castillo Lara, Catholic Bishops Conference 
President Archbishop Baltasar Porras and Father Raul Biord. 
Castillo has sharply criticized President Chavez over the 
last month, calling him a 'paranoid dictator."  Chavez 
responded by denouncing Castillo as "a bandit, coupster, 
devil and a hypocrite".  The Catholic Bishops Conference 
issued a statement July 29 rejecting GOV attacks on the 
Cardinal and calling on the GOV to respect political freedom. 
 
 
3. (C) The Ambassador noted the sharp GOV reaction to 
Cardinal Castillo's recent comments criticizing President 
Chavez and the GOV.  The United States recognizes the 
difficult situation facing the Catholic Church and is 
prepared to support any actions or statements by the Church 
on issues such as democracy, human rights and social justice. 
 The United States is also willing to provide financial 
assistance to Catholic social programs and projects in poor 
areas if the Church desires.  The Ambassador clarified, 
however, that the United States would not try to politicize 
the Church's activities nor would it press the Church to 
adopt specific policy positions. 
 
4. (C) Cardinal Castillo thanked the Ambassador for his 
support, noting that Venezuela faces a critical moment in its 
history.  Chavez is concentrating all power in his hands and 
is using oil money to cement his political control.  The 
political opposition is disorganized after the international 
community's acceptance of Chavez' victory in the 2004 
referendum-a victory achieved through fraud.  Still, Castillo 
said the Catholic Church in Venezuela has always been clear 
in its defense of democracy and human rights, and will 
continue to criticize Chavez' dictatorial actions.  He said 
the offer of U.S. financial support for Church social 
projects is important since the GOV has removed most GOV 
funding for such activities.  Castillo cautioned that the 
Vatican would remain "prudent" in its approach toward the 
GOV, but urged the U.S. to reach out to Cardinal McCarrick in 
Washington.  He added that Cardinal Maida of Detroit and 
Cardinal George of Chicago are also friends of the Venezuelan 
Church. 
 
5. (C) Archbishop Porras also welcomed possible U.S. 
financial assistance for Catholic social projects.  Small 
projects designed to show the Church's presence among the 
people and to highlight alternatives to the GOV's 
socio-political model are key.  He would send several 
proposals to the Ambassador for consideration.  Porras also 
asked if the U.S. might assist the Church's efforts to set up 
a Catholic satellite television channel. Despite the support 
of Gustavo Cisneros, DirecTV has so far rebuffed the Church's 
request that it broadcast the channel. 
 
6. (C) Porras said he would be in Washington on September 7-8 
to meet with the U.S. Bishops Conference and to attend a 
dinner in honor of outgoing Inter-American Development Bank 
President Enrique Iglesias.  He would remain for two or three 
additional days in Washington to meet with Cardinal McCarrick 
 
and would be open to meeting with U.S. officials. 
 
7. (C) Father Biord agreed that the Church's duty to denounce 
Chavez' dictatorial government would provoke further clashes 
with the GOV. The Church would need to focus its social and 
doctrinal training to highlight the flaws of the communist 
model.  Chavez would continue trying to "to buy" some priests 
in an attempt to undermine the position of the Church 
hierarchy, and would intensify his attacks on the Catholic 
Church hierarchy.  He said the Church would need 
international help to resist this pressure. 
 
8. (C) Porras and Castillo volunteered to help the Ambassador 
obtain a meeting with the Papal Nuncio in Caracas. They 
attributed the Nuncio's failure to meet with the Ambassador 
to the fact that the GOV had made the Nuncio wait several 
months before finally allowing him to present his credentials 
on July 11.  The GOV had only accepted his credentials after 
the Vatican had given Venezuela's new Ambassador to the 
Vatican the same treatment. 
 
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Comment: 
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9. (C)  The extent of the Catholic Church's political 
influence remains unclear, but opinion polls regularly show 
it to be Venezuela's most respected institution.  Castillo's 
constant criticism of Chavez- as shown by Chavez' vitriolic 
attack on the octogenarian Cardinal- has clearly touched a 
GOV sore point.  We will continue to reach out to Catholic 
Church officials to support their efforts to promote 
democratic freedoms and social justice. 
Brownfield 
 
 
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      2005CARACA02326 - CONFIDENTIAL