Nicolás Maduro

As the situation in Venezuela becomes more complex and violent, the church has maintained a two-prong position: it has attempted to remain neutral while calling for peace and dialogue at the same time.

The date February 23 will be remembered as the showdown between Venezuelan interim President Juan Guaidó against de facto President Nicolás Maduro, as the latter seeks to remain in power at all costs.

Is there a properly Judeo-Christian perspective on the current crisis in Venezuela? It depends on whom you ask. In a word, it’s complicated, even among those of the same faith community.

The international community is picking sides in the ongoing governmental crisis in Venezuela, a South American nation that currently has two presidents: interim President Juan Guaidó, who is recognized by several Latin American nations, Australia, Georgia, the U.S., to name a few; and President Nicolas Maduro, who is supported by the governments of Bolivia, China, Cuba, Russia, among others.

National Security Advisor John Bolton labeled the governments of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela as Latin America’s “Troika of Tyranny.” Does this signal a drastic change in US foreign policy toward Latin America? Or can we expect more of the same?

President Trump has said the “military option” is available for Venezuela, and that “all options are on the table.” At the same time, he has said that he is willing to meet with President Maduro.

Bolivian President Evo Morales has been following the same destructive pattern as Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro.

The Venezuelan government continues to look for new targets it can blame for the country’s woes. Disturbingly, the Venezuelan church has become the latest.

The choice is not between open borders or Birkenau. The choice which lies before us is whether or not we will make a government which reflects the divine justice for which government exists.