Representatives of rural and factory workers, the unemployed and the Indian community from all over Latin America have sent a message to the Conference of Latin American Bishops which will meet next month in Puebla, Mexico.
The message, which was drafted at a meeting of peasants, bishops, nuns and priests in Brazil, thanked the bishops for the strong stand they took on issues of social justice at their last meeting in Medellin, Colombia, The peasants asked that this stand should be strengthened by the bishops. "We ask of the Puebla meeting that the bishops bring more light, more valour, more hope and more certainty of total liberation so that there will not longer be some who smile and others who weep, some fat and others lean."
Religious radio programmes on 50 stations in Mexico have been suspended by Mexico's Office of the Interior, according to reports in a Mexican Christian newspaper.
According to the Government, religious broadcasts "lend themselves to swindle the public, since some of the programmes in question indicate to the radio listener that through prayers he may be healed of such and such an illness."
The Government also claims that some broadcasters have asked for financial help which is not allowed.
Mr Juan Isais, a Mexican radio producer and member of the Community of Latin American Evangelical Ministries, has accused the Government of violating the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights by enforcing the ban.
• The most recent edition of the American magazine Cross Currents is on the theme "Puebla: Moment of decision for the Latin American Church" and can be obtained in this country from CUR, 1 Cambridge Terrace, London, NW I, price £1 plus postage.