Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Paraná (Agenzia Fides) - The Archdiocese of Paraná celebrated its 1st Family Day on Sunday 30 September in a situation of heated debate after permission was granted for an abortion to be performed in Mar del Plata on a young mother with a mental disability, who had been reportedly raped (see Fides 27/9/2007).
Actually the Family celebration was started some years ago but with little success and so it was re-launched. According to D. Ramón Gauna, diocesan Family Pastoral delegate, the aim was to celebrate the good news of marriage and the family "with the conviction that the family is a good for the whole Church and the whole society".
A Message for the occasion recalls "we know there is an annual Feast day of the Holy Family which we celebrate with the mystery of the Nativity of the Lord, but we thought it would be a good idea to have a Sunday on which to celebrate this mystery in order to underline the message of marriage and the family. Bishop Mario Maulión approved the idea and the date as the last Sunday in September". The organisers say the aim of Family Day is to "proclaim the truth, the identity of marriage and the family whose origin is the Creator himself. On this day we wish to unite to proclaim the greatness of this vocation and encourage married couples and families to make every family a school of true disciples of the Gospel, a domestic church. At the same time we pray for families in difficulty". For the Day parishes organised special activities during which married couples renewed their marriage promises.
In the meantime protests continue after an abortion was performed on a young girl with a mental disability. Catholic Action Argentina Argentina, supported the criticism voiced by the local Church because for many reasons it is necessary “to protect the life of the unborn child, despite the difficulties and suffering of the mother and her family which we understand". The National Junta of the Christian Democrat Party issued a statement “Christian Democracy Defends New Life”, in which it affirms "after the recent execution of an unborn child in Mar del Plata we strongly protest against such brutal murders", and "we confirm our conviction to protect life from conception to natural death". (RG) (Agenzia Fides 2/10/2007; righe 31, parole 436)
