The Venezuelan government has prevented the previous Archbishop of Caracas, Cardinal Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo, from leaving the country and has had his passport cancelled.
The cardinal was set to fly to Bogotá, Colombia, on 10 December after which onto Toledo, Spain via Madrid. He was as a consequence of attend a ceremony wherein he could be appointed the role of Spiritual Protector within the Order of Saint Lazarus in Venezuela.
Travelling with Cardinal Porras Cardozo were José Antonio Rodríguez, Grand Prior of the Order of Saint Lazarus, and the Grand Prior’s wife. While the Grand Prior and his wife were permitted to embark on their journey, Venezuelan officials told Cardinal Porras Cardozo he could be arrested if he insisted on travelling.
According to the Order, the cardinal’s belongings were searched, and he was subjected to “humiliating” treatment. No official explanation has been given for Cardinal Porras Cardozo’s treatment, even though it is nearly definitely the results of his criticism of the Venezuelan government.
In October Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro accused the cardinal of being a part of a conspiracy following his denunciation of human rights violations and the increasing militarisation of Venezuela.
The government subsequently warned the Catholic Church in Venezuela against allowing the cardinal to attend Mass within the town of Isnotú and even deployed military forces to stop him reaching the town.
Anna Lee Stangl, Director of Advocacy and Americas Team Leader at Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), said, “CSW is extremely alarmed on the Venezuelan authorities’ increasing efforts to limit the liberty of movement of Cardinal Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo, who has clearly been targeted due to his criticism of the federal government’s violations of human rights.
“We echo the decision of the Order of Saint Lazarus for the authorities to return and reinstate Cardinal Porras Cardozo’s passport, and to allow him to travel freely to Bogotá.”
CSW also condemned a separate incident wherein unknown people vandalised the Cuasia Church in San Juan de los Morros in October.
The vandals left graffiti threatening the lifetime of the church’s priest, Fr Juan Manuel León, who has also spoken out against human rights abuses within the country.
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