OFFICE OF THE PRESIDING BISHOP Reformed Catholic Church
www.reformedcatholic.org
January 4th, 2026
19 E. Eldridge Street Manchester, CT 06040 562-708-7198
Statement of the Bishops of the Reformed Catholic Church Condemning the Violent Incursion into Venezuela
As Christians throughout the world continue to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, we bishops are compelled to raise our voices in clear and unequivocal condemnation of the violent incursion into the sovereign nation of Venezuela on January 3rd, 2026, which was carried out on orders from the sitting President of the United States and his cabinet members.
Such acts of violence stand in direct contradiction to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. At the heart of the Christmas mystery is God’s radical decision to enter human history not through domination or force, but through vulnerability, humility and love. Any action that advances political, ideological or economic aims through violence betrays this Gospel witness and wounds the dignity of the human person, who is created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27).
We acknowledge with pastoral honesty that the people of Venezuela themselves hold profoundly mixed reactions to the removal of President Nicolás Maduro. For some, his departure has been met with relief after years marked by repression, corruption and deep economic suffering. For others, it has brought fear, grief, anger and a sense of national violation. The Church does not dismiss these divergent experiences. Rather, we hold them together in prayer, recognizing that cries for freedom and cries against violence often arise from the same wounded reality. No political outcome can justify the means by which it is achieved when those means involve bloodshed, kidnapping and terror.
Scripture is unambiguous in its rejection of violence as a tool for resolving conflict. “Put your sword back into its place,” Jesus tells Peter, “for all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52). The prophet Micah envisions God’s reign as one in which nations “shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation” (Micah 4:3). Any armed action that spreads fear, destabilization and death stands in direct opposition to God’s will and to our Christian vocation to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9).
We grieve especially the loss of life and the many injuries caused by the explosions in Caracas. Each death is an irreparable tragedy. Behind every number is a human face: a child, a parent, a neighbor, a worker beloved by God. Violence, even when justified in the language of liberation or security, always exacts its heaviest toll on ordinary people. The Lord hears the cry of the poor (Psalm 34:6), and the Church must never be silent when actions intensify that cry.
Beyond its moral failure, this incursion constitutes a serious violation of international law. The Charter of the United Nations explicitly prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state (Article 2, Section 4). The principles of sovereignty and non-intervention exist precisely to prevent the suffering and chaos that inevitably follow unlawful acts of aggression, particularly for vulnerable populations.
We further note that such actions may violate the laws of the United States itself. Federal statutes, including those commonly known as the Neutrality Act, prohibit unauthorized military expeditions against nations with which the United States is at peace. Moreover, the U.S. Constitution reserves the authority to declare war to Congress (Article I, Section 8). Violence carried out beyond lawful authority undermines democratic accountability and the rule of law.
That this violence was carried out by a foreign power—and the nation of which most of us bishops are citizens--deepens its moral gravity. No nation has the right to impose its will upon another through force, regardless of how unjust or dysfunctional a government may be. History repeatedly demonstrates that foreign military intervention erodes trust, destabilizes societies, and leaves lasting wounds on national dignity and self-determination. The future of Venezuela must be shaped by the Venezuelan people themselves.
Pope Paul VI’s enduring insight remains true: “If you want peace, work for justice.” Justice cannot be achieved through covert operations, armed incursions, or the infliction of terror. It is achieved through dialogue, respect for sovereignty, adherence to law and genuine solidarity with those who suffer.
We therefore call upon the leadership of the United States, and upon all governments and international actors, to reject violence, to respect international and domestic law, and to recommit themselves to peaceful and diplomatic solutions. We urge the faithful to pray for the people of Venezuela, for an end to foreign interference and internal violence, and for leaders everywhere to choose the difficult but holy path of peace.
May our Lord Jesus Christ, who was born into a world marked by occupation and injustice, soften hardened hearts and guide nations away from violence and toward reconciliation.
The Bishops of the Reformed Catholic Church
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