Church vs. Chavez
The week's news at a glance.
Caracas, Venezuela
The highest ranking Roman Catholic official in Venezuela this week called the country’s president, Hugo Chavez, a “paranoid dictator” in need of “an exorcism.” Cardinal Rosalio Castillo Lara said Chavez, a left-wing populist and former paratrooper, had recently rounded up more than 100 political prisoners in an ongoing effort to give himself dictatorial powers. “This is a despotic government,” Castillo said. Chavez insists he supports democracy—polls show him the likely winner if he runs for re-election next year. Chavez said Castillo is “a bandit” who “has the devil inside him.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
What should you be stockpiling for 'World War Three'?
In the Spotlight Britons advised to prepare after the EU tells its citizens to have an emergency kit just in case
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Carnivore diet: why people are eating only meat
The Explainer 'Meatfluencers' are taking social media by storm but experts warn meat-only diets have health consequences
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Scientists want to fight malaria by poisoning mosquitoes with human blood
Under the radar Drugging the bugs
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published