Chavez brands leaders of Catholic church 'liars and perverts'

President Hugo Chavez insulted Roman Catholic leaders Tuesday after they questioned the openness of Venezuela's constitutional reform process, calling them "liars" and "perverts."

"It saddens me to see these bishops from our Catholic Church lie," Chavez said in a nationally televised broadcast.

Chavez said the country's Catholic Bishops' Conference had demonstrated ignorance by suggesting earlier this week that proposals for the reform, which are being drafted by a special committee appointed by the president, are being kept from the public.

"For the love of God, if you do it due to ignorance, reflect.

"If they do it for perversion, they better take off the robe," said Chavez, a former paratroop commander who has repeatedly clashed with church leaders since he took office in 1999.

"They are either ignorant, perverse or perverts."

Chavez often uses personal insults to ridicule his critics, including U.S. President George W. Bush, former Mexican President Vicente Fox and outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The committee preparing a blueprint for the constitutional reform has not publicly announced any of the proposed changes, prompting criticism from groups who say they have been excluded.

Members of the committee say they took an oath of confidentiality and cannot divulge details until their recommendations are presented to lawmakers for consideration.

"We don't think the constitution should be changed in a laboratory or within closed groups," Archbishop Ubaldo Santana, president of the bishops' conference, said earlier this week. "Rather, it should be something that involves the entire country."

The church wields tremendous influence among Venezuela's 27 million inhabitants, most of whom are Catholic.

Some Catholic leaders are worried the reform could infringe on freedoms, and earlier Tuesday Monsignor Roberto Luckert - one of Chavez's most outspoken critics - told Globovision TV he believes Venezuela is headed for "a military autocracy."

Chavez rejects allegations that he is a threat to democracy, but he has raised concerns by saying he wants to be president until 2021 or beyond, and proposing indefinite re-election as part of the forthcoming reform. Venezuela's National Assembly, which is controlled by Chavez's allies, is expected to begin reviewing the proposals next month.

The reforms will later be approved or rejected by voters in a referendum.

[link to www.dailymail.co.uk]