April 11, 2003

BRASILIA - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva hopes that Churches participate in the implementation of social programs in his administration but that they mainly act as critical voices that point out mistakes and correct the government's path.

The president made the comments at a meeting with leaders from the National Council of Brazilian Christian Churches (CONIC) and the Ecumenical Service Coordinator (CESE).

Leaders from both ecumenical organizations and representatives for traditional Churches, both Catholic and Protestant, said that the election of Lula as president of the Republic has given Brazilian society a shot of optimism and hope. They also expressed their hope that the government listens to what Churches have to say about the reality facing the Brazilian people.

The first vice president of CONIC, Lutheran Pastor Rolf Sch|nemann said that Lula spoke about the first 100 days of his administration and reaffirmed his commitment to priorize public policies that alleviate the pain and suffering of millions of Brazilians.

He also said, however, that sometimes changes cannot take place as fast as people and the president himself would like.

Leaders from CESE and CONIC emphasized that historic Christian Churches are present across national territory and spoke about the wide range of experiences they have in the social arena alongside the most marginalized sectors.

The government could take advantage of these experiences and reproduce them in order to draft new social policies, they said. They emphasized that they do not want positions in government as they aim to conserve their autonomy.

During the Brasilia meeting, leaders from CESE and CONIC told President Lula that they support the Brazilian position regarding the war unleashed by the United States and their allies in Iraq. Both said that they are willing to collaborate in implementing the Zero Hunger Program and insisted that the agrarian reform be broadened.

Prior to meeting with the president, CESE and CONIC leaders met with the president's special advisor Fray Betto who explained the Zero Hunger Program and told them how Churches can collaborate with this program.

Agencia Latinoamericana y Caribeqa de Comunicacisn (ALC)