Gestures for peace ” “

Criticism has been directed against Bishop Ricardo Blázquez Pérez of Bilbao, also by various exponents of the Church, for having written, together with the bishops of San Sebastián and Vitoria, a pastoral letter entitled “Preparing for peace”, made public in recent days. In particular, the bishop of Bilbao is accused of having been too indulgent towards terrorists and having adopted a stance against the “law on the political parties” that has banned the Basque separatist party Herri Batasuna, political arm of ETA. In this interview granted to SirEurope, Bishop Blázquez replies to the accusations made against him. What is the Basque Church doing to combat terrorism? “We have condemned terrorism many times. In a book entitled ‘The Church in response to the terrorism of ETA’, we even collected over 500 declarations against terrorism, many of them by bishops and also by the Holy See. I’ve been bishop of Bilbao for six years and I have expressed over 50 condemnations of terrorist phenomena. But condemnation is not enough. What we want is that, through education in our schools, in the parishes and in the other places where people meet, they may breathe and transmit a climate favourable to peace. Otherwise violence risks becoming rooted in people’s hearts and minds. Peace, if it is to grow, has a need for a laboratory in the heart of man; this laboratory is represented by conversion”. What initiatives are being taken by citizens in favour of peace? “A few years ago a movement was founded called ‘Gesture for peace’ that helps and mobilizes the conscience against terrorism, and the promotion of peace. Whenever a terrorist act takes place, this movement organizes a silent demonstration in which large numbers of people participate; they want to express in this way their personal rejection of the logic of violence”. Are you helping the victims of terrorist attacks? “The Basque Church has increasingly stepped up its solidarity with, and expression of support to, the families that have been the victims of terrorist violence. And it is also close to the families threatened by ETA, many of whom have been forced to flee the country, due to the intimidation they have suffered. Moreover, we have promoted gestures and actions in favour of peace: beginning with pilgrimages to the Marian sanctuaries of Our Lady of Aránzazu in the diocese of San Sebastián and Urkiola in the diocese of Bilbao. Last year all three Basque dioceses took part in them, as also did the diocese of Pamplona which suffers, like us, from the problem of terrorism”. What was the response of the faithful to these events? “There was an enthusiastic response. The atmosphere was one of prayer, because we believe that praying for peace is one of the most effective instruments that the Church has at her disposal in helping to combat terrorism and violence. Prayer, in fact, helps us to rest the heart, to look at things with greater serenity and to discover the roads of peace, following in the footsteps of the Lord”.