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(OSV News) -- Pope Francis has called for both sides to "seek the truth" in Venezuela's contested election as the opposition denounces electoral fraud -- publishing tally sheets as proof -- while the ruling Chavista regime refuses to release the full information on the vote and cracks down on demonstrations.
During his Angelus address Aug. 4, Pope Francis said, "I make a heartfelt appeal to all parties to seek the truth, to exercise restraint, to avoid any kind of violence, to settle disputes through dialogue, to have at heart the true good of the people and not partisan interests."
Venezuela's two most senior clergy, meanwhile, warned that harassment of priests from pro-government politicians has the country following in the footsteps of Nicaragua, where democracy has disappeared and the church is persecuted.
Cardinal Baltazar Porras, retired archbishop of Caracas, and Cardinal Diego Padrón, retired archbishop of Cumaná, also wrote in a three-page statement that the government has failed to "build bridges" with the opposition and remains trapped in the idea of a "'coup d'etat' constructed ad hoc," rather than releasing the complete results of the July 28 election -- a move demanded by the opposition and counties recognizing the opposition victory, including the United States.
"The reaction of the Venezuelan government has been, until now, to flatly deny the opposition victory … without showing evidence, which are the voting records," Cardinals Porras and Padrón said in the Aug. 1 statement.
"The government, instead of building bridges with the opposition … has widened the abyss in front of it, considering enemies all those who do not approve of its behavior. And it has decided to annihilate (opponents) with repression, prison, violence and death," the statement said.
The Aug. 1 document was not distributed by the Venezuelan bishops' conference or the Archdiocese of Caracas, but was authenticated by Venezuelan media several dates later.
"What we cannot do is become another church of silence, letting time pass in vain. We have to discern in the Spirit the present moment as a kairos and act accordingly with courage, in the style of the apostles," the statement said.
"We are not and cannot be neutral," the cardinals continued. "It is necessary to carefully check the facts, to prophetically denounce, even at risk, injustices, and to proclaim our principles and values, accompanying the people in solidarity and pastorally, a task that is not easy but necessary."
Venezuelans voted in a tense election claimed by opposition candidate Edmundo González, a former diplomat whose campaign pointed to exit polls and tallies collected from polling centers as proof of his victory. But the National Electoral Council -- packed with Maduro cronies -- declared the president the winner with 51% of the vote compared to 44% for Gónzalez, but failed to present proof.
The opposition subsequently published tally sheets from 79% of polling centers showing Gonzá