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CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - President Hugo Chavez calls Jesus a guiding light for his self-styled socialist revolution.
But his relationship with the Roman Catholic Church is complicated and sometimes strained. Even as the leftist leader has invited Catholic priests to share their ideas on transforming Venezuela into a socialist state, he has clashed with some priests who are critical of him — and in one case declared that a Venezuelan archbishop is bound for hell.
Nonetheless, Chavez says he wants the best relations with the church and has recently spoken by phone with some supportive priests during his near-daily radio broadcasts. The church leadership's tone toward Chavez has varied over the years from cordiality to open hostility.
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