AMERICA/PARAGUAY - The Bishops warn against proposed Sexual Health Law which “fails to respect human dignity, human life, genuine sexual relationships, authentic responsible parenthood" and should be rejected

Asuncion (Agenzia Fides) - The Catholic Bishops of Paraguay, in plenary assembly 5-9 November (see Fides 6/11/2007), addressed a statement to the country's legislators, Catholics, and all men and women of good will warning against a proposed Sexual Health Law to be discussed by the senate. The Bishops say the proposed law "proposes a cultural revolution under cover of sexual and reproductive rights which violate and damage young people and society spreading an anti-life mentality and culture".
Remarking on "terms used in the Bill responding to new situations of life in the framework of globalisation", the Bishops demand exact definitions of terms such as "gender", "sexual choice", "reproductive education ", "reproductive and mental health", so the law and its moral repercussions may be "properly understood ".
The Bishops denounce the law for “ambiguous concepts which violate human life and human dignity”, and norms which “fail to guarantee respect: for the dignity of men and women; for life from conception to natural death; for sexual relationships as the expression of genuine love within marriage; for responsible authentic parenthood". The Bishops conclude with a call to legislators, especially those who are Catholics reminding them of the "moral duty to defend Life and live according to the Church's moral principles and social teaching". (RG) (Agenzia Fides 8/11/2007; righe 19, parole 264)