San Jose (Agenzia Fides) - “Faith is transmitted like a lantern that is passed from one hand to the next, and marriage is the foundation of the family...” This is what Archbishop Hugo Barrantes Urena of San Jose, President of the Costa Rican Bishops' Conference, said in his last pastoral visit to Immaculate Conception of Mary Parish in Alajuelita. The Archbishop centered his homily especially on the theme of the family and marriage, reminding couples to remain strong and not let themselves be overcome by the “constant threats of deterioration and original sin.”
There are several draft bills being discussed in the Legislative Assembly that would be better not approved, “as they are contrary to human dignity, such as abortion and the day-after pill, and same-sex unions, which are an offense to God,” Archbishop Barrantes said. In reference to the family, the Archbishop of San Jose compared it to a “spiritual womb, which is not only meant to procreate and educate, but to have great dedication, commitment, and constancy.” In fact, “the holiness of marriage is something great and the responsibility of parents even more so, as they are the roots of the principles,” which is why “the Church is opposed to homosexuality, as God's plan is marriage and the family.”
The Archbishop also made reference to the constitutional reforms that seek to eliminate God from the public sphere. He said that this is the mentality that needs to be changed and “we are all convinced of the need to evangelize and this is the work of the Continental Mission: 'knock on the doors.'” Archbishop Barrantes concluded his homily by once again encouraging the faithful to continue on the road of commitment to God and neighbor. (GT) (Agenzia Fides 12/10/2009)