Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Maputo (Agenzia Fides) - “Once more, we wish to reflect on the evil of abortion, a very worrisome matter (in its existence and in the project underway that seeks its legalization and/or decriminalization).” This was how the Bishops of Mozambique expressed their perspectives on the project underway to sanction abortion, which has been a subject of discussion in the country for some time now, according to a document sent to Agenzia Fides, published at the close of the first plenary meeting of 2008.
The Bishops encouraged the faithful to read and promote the Pastoral Letter on the abortion controversy, entitled, “Yes to Life and No to Death,” published April 2007 (see Fides 11/5/2007). “We are making an appeal to all consciences. In the past, the condemnation of certain criminal practices in this field on the part of Christian moral guidelines forced medical research to make progresses that science itself and all mankind are now proud to recognize. The values that have been recognized by human conscience cannot be destroyed by self-centered and self-interested positions held by a minority that disregards the value of life in all its dimensions,” Mozambique’s Catholic Conference of Bishops wrote.
“We are in favor of the protection of the health and life of the woman and we are offering our own contributions in this area. The protection of the life and health of the woman should not, however, be obtained at the cost of the life of the person (the child in the mother’s womb) who cannot defend himself in any way,” the Bishops continued. “The worst part of this situation is that the majority of the abortions performed, which is an appalling number, are not carried out in protection of the woman’s life. The majority of the cases are the result selfish motivations and/or economic interests, linked to a culture of death, along with the impoverishment of the human conscience and the loss of authentic values. In our fight in defense of life, we begin by denouncing the cultures and mentalities that contribute to an impoverishment of respect for the values of life. We are an independent nation, every people has its own culture in which it finds its identity and no nation should impose its culture.”
Among the other themes discussed at the Mozambican Bishops’ Plenary Assembly, were the pastoral matters and those having to do with the formation of the clergy, as well as the plan for expanding the Catholic University of Mozambique. The university always forms one of the most important aspects in a country’s progress. After the establishment of the School of Economy and Management, in the Diocese of Tete, efforts are being made to reinforce the Nutritional Engineering School in Chimoio, the School of Social and Political Science in the Diocese of Quelimane, and the School of Philosophy in Maputo, to compliment the already existing School of Theology. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 30/4/2008; righe 38, parole 477)
