San Juan, June 10 (RHC-teleSUR)-- Puerto Rico’s Roman Catholic Archbishop, Roberto González Nieves OFM, has announced his support for Puerto Rico's debt crisis legislation, according to a press release issued by Jubilee USA Network.

In an op-ed in The Hill, Archbishop Gonzalez noted the crisis is rooted in Puerto Rico’s "colonial status" and called on the people of the island to come together.  Gonzalez wrote: "Fundamentally, Puerto Rico is a colony of the United States," warning that before Puerto Rico's next crisis, people must decide on their relationship with the United States.

Eric LeCompte, the Executive Director of Jubilee USA Network, echoed the Archbishop’s comments, saying that the crisis is rooted in the island’s status being unclear.  And he added that the Archbishop is calling on resolving Puerto Rico’s status.  Responding to a question about the religious leader, LeCompte said: "Archbishop Gonzalez ‎is a courageous advocate for his people."

Besides supporting Gonzalez’s support for action in Congress, he is also hoping for stronger legislation around child poverty reduction, noting that “56 percent of children in Puerto Rico live in poverty,” calling the situation "criminal."