Brazil's bishops condemn corruption ahead of election

BRASILIA, Brazil - Brazil's influential Catholic bishops on Thursday condemned political corruption, saying President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government had fallen short of expectations, just days before an election in which he is expected to win a second term.

Members of Brazil's National Bishops Conference also condemned an attempted smear campaign against the opposition by members of Lula's Workers' Party.

"What's saddest of all is that instead of debating the election, we're talking about (corruption)," said Antonio Celso de Queiros, vice-president of the National Bishops Conference in Brazil, the world's largest Roman Catholic country.

When asked specifically about Lula, the conference president expressed disappointment. "In my opinion, it has not been everything that we so urgently need," Cardinal Geraldo Majella said at a news briefing.

Lula rode into office three years ago on promises to clean up government influence-peddling and redistribute wealth to the hungry and poor. But since taking office, his party has been consumed by a string of corruption scandals.

The scandals have soured Brazilians on politics and marred Lula's image even though he was never directly implicated. He is expected to win a second term on Sunday because of a solid economy and expanded assistance to millions of Brazil's poor.

The Catholic Bishops do not endorse political candidates and made no comments on Thursday about Lula's main rival, Geraldo Alckmin, who is favoured by Brazil's business elite.

- REUTERS