Argentine priests criticize economic model at national meeting

The Grupo de Curas en Opción por los Pobres held its 37th National Meeting in Sañogasta, La Rioja, an area significant for the murder of lay peasant Wenceslao Pedernera. During the gathering, which took place between August 31 and September 3, 28 priests gathered to honor the memory of martyrs, including Bishop Enrique Angelelli, Gabriel Longueville, and Carlos de Dios Murias.

In a released communiqué, the group criticized the current government's economic policies, describing them as a model based on “cruelty, individualism, and injustice.” The priests expressed deep concern regarding the deteriorating social conditions in rural and urban communities, specifically citing rising unemployment, poverty, the growth of informal labor, and increased family debt.

The group also highlighted a mental health crisis, noting an “atrocious increase” in suicides, particularly among youth, and warned that the lack of public policies for the poor is driving social despair. The meeting emphasized the importance of active memory to prevent the recurrence of state terrorism and violence.