Theology 2 in Venezuela #15

(By Stephen Villa)

The relationship between the Church and the State here in Venezuela has given me lots to think about. There is definitely a different ecclesiological model at work here. One could describe the Church here as "mother" -- providing, or struggling to do so, for the needs of her children. It is not uncommon to find the Church meeting not only the spiritual needs but also the physical needs of the people (ie. via soup kitchens, temporary lodging, small medical facilities, small education opportunities, etc).

A new insight here is that 'poverty' is contra naturam in the sense that it inhibits a person to fully engage their potential or even to explore the full range of the human experience. Poverty seems to lock a person into a 'survival mentality' because the situation here oftentimes in grim. One must labor - and be peculiarly cunning about it - daily to make sure one is able to survive. And because so many people have been accustomed to such a life for so many year, and therefore not knowingof any other way of life, they seem to be somewhat content, or at least resigned, to their poverty.

I find myself somewhat enraged at the socio-economic situation here. It appears that there is plenty of money in the country due to the wealth gained by the export of oil and mining resources. Yet unemployment rates are high. I guess that, among the general population, there is a discontent about the way life is (though I hear it is an improvement of the situation several years ago) and it manifests itself in a number of aberrant behaviors. I suspect that at the heart of these 'pobres' is a certain reaction to a human potential that never had the chance to be. There are so many skilled and educated people that I have met, yet they are forced to settle for mundane jobs just so that they are able to survive because jobs are not presently available in their given field. Though they might not expressly articulate it as such, I would guess that there is a frustration at having been demoralized in a certain sense.

I also find myself deeply humbled by these people. For even though the socio-economic condition can be described as controversial, the situation has not tainted the inherent goodness of these people. Our ineractions with them have been honest and frank about life here in the parish; yet, while it is clear that these people know their situation is difficult, I have not sense an anger or an attitude of having been victimized. The people here have been genuinely warm and hospitable to the gringos (and the chino!). They are very patient with our poor Spanish-speaking skills. They are very willing to share with us the very best that they have, even though it might not be much.