Former Secretary of State Under Daniel Ortega Visits PSUMC
Nicaraguan Maryknoll priest Fr. Miguel D'Escoto, former Secretary of State under Daniel Ortega, brought warm greetings to the PSUMC congregation on Sunday, and deep thanks for the many years of support which our congregation has given to our sister church, La Merced, in Managua.
In a conversation following the worship service, Fr. Miguel, author of the forthcoming book, Anti-Imperialism and Non-Violence (South Ocean Press/Ocean Sud, 2008), spoke of the many years of hardship his country has endured and of the importance of forgiveness and the absence of hate in building for the future.
"We don't believe in democracy that only functions in time of election," he explained. "It is self-deceit to talk about democracy in the face of extreme hunger."
Fr. Miguel described three new programs of the Nicaraguan government:
• Hambre Zero (No Hunger), a program which supplies peasants in the countryside with with cows, pigs, chickens, and technical assistance for agriculture.
• Usero Zero (No Usury), a program which gives no- interest loans and technical assistance to develop essential means of production; and
• Citizen Power Centers, which allow residents to participate in legislative decision making.
"Social responsibility atrophies if you don't have a way to allow people to play a responsive role," said Fr. Miguel.
He asked for our prayers for the country and its leaders, including President Daniel Ortega and economist Orlando Nunes, the director of Hambre Zero.
Fr. Miguel is presently being considered for the position of President of the General Assembly of the UN. His visit was made possible, in part, by PSUMC members Don Carey and Bonnie Stretch.