The President also accused Cardinal Parolin of having succumbed to “violence against the Bolivarian Revolution, Venezuela’s legitimate government and Venezuela as a whole”.
“The hierarchy of the Catholic Church in the country has traditionally been allied to the sectors that held onto powers and privileges, and destroyed the country for almost a century,” Maduro said, speaking to little-known ‘Radio Rebelde’ of Buenos Aires and reported by Crux News.
The President also accused Cardinal Parolin of having succumbed to “violence against the Bolivarian Revolution, Venezuela’s legitimate government and Venezuela as a whole”.
Maduro accused Venezuela’s bishops – who have made clear their rejection of the Assembly – of being “militants” of the opposition, adding that they have allowed churches to hold political events.
According to the president, there has been a degeneration of religious leadership in Venezuela, which has influenced the Vatican’s political position.
Despite overwhelming international condemnation and a planned opposition protest, Maduro installed the new consititution on 4 August.
A Catholic priest gave his blessing at the inauguration on Friday of the 545 member body, which will have the power to rewrite the constitution and dissolve state institutions.
The new Assembly is made up entirely of pro-government loyalists after the opposition boycotted last Sunday’s vote as an unconstitutional attempt by Maduro to strengthen his grip on power.
The vote has also come under question amid allegations of fraud and vote rigging. The British-based company, Smartmatic, involved in the vote technology behind the election last Sunday, has said that “without a doubt” the official turnout figure had been tampered with and exaggerated by at least a million voters.
More than 40 countries have now said they will not recognise the assembly.
Last week, the US imposed targeted sanctions on Maduro – whom Trump has called a “dictator” – and some of his close allies, freezing any US assets they might have.
PICTURE: Venezuelans protest against Maduro following the vote
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