AMERICA/COSTA RICA - The President of the Bishops' Conference reminds Catholic politicians of their duty to oppose “any political program or draft bill that contains proposals that go against the fundamental content of faith and morals.”

San Jose (Agenzia Fides) - “When political action touches upon moral principals that do not permit exceptions nor compromises, the commitment of Catholic lawmakers becomes a more evident and serious necessity,” Archbishop Hugo Barrantes Ureña of San Jose, President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference, said during a meeting held with Catholic politicians in the country.
The Archbishop acknowledged their work, which is “often times carried out in silence,” as they strive to fulfill their mission, and he mentioned that “the participation of the laity in public life is a right and a duty that should never be renounced.”
As Archbishop, he expressed the fact that his desire is not to “give concrete solutions...in the way temporal functions should be carried out, as God has given each of you free judgment and responsibility in doing so.” However, as a teacher in the faith, he wishes to “enlighten the consciences of the faithful, especially those working in public offices, so that their activity may always be at the service of the integrity of the human person and the common good.”
Archbishop Barrantes shows his concern for the lawmakers, on account of “several draft bills that are underway in the Legislative Assembly and that contain aspects that in themselves openly attack the family and human life, as they are understood from the Christian faith perspective and as reflected in our juridical system.”
The Prelate named the draft bill “number 16182” which is a reform of the Law on the Family, where “the union between a man and a woman is converted into a mere encounter of 'two wills,' without any definition of whom we are referring to.” There is also the draft bill “number 16792 that presents a reform of Article 21 of the Constitution, detracting from the absolute respect for human life.”
There is also draft bill “16390,” which proposes “the legalization of civil unions between persons of the same sex, granting them the same rights as a married couple. Draft bill “16887,” on the reform of the Health Care Law, seeks to include a chapter on sexual and reproductive rights.” This law, the Archbishop says, “separates sexuality from human reproduction and makes each person the absolute lord over their own body. As a result of this suggested sexual libertarianism, every kind of contraceptive, sterilization, and abortion is promoted.”
Another draft bill concerns discrimination, and is “an intent to 'normalize' lifestyles that go against Christian values.”
Lastly, there is draft bill “16978” that concerns the Penal Code, increasing the penalties for discrimination in terms of sexual orientation and criminalize all those who hold an opinion contrary to these policies.
The “common denominator” in all the draft bills, according to Archbishop Barrantes, is the part about “sexual rights,”...where there is an effort to impose a concept of the human person that reduces the person to an erotic level, without any reference to the love of 'agape.'”
Thus, he makes a strong appeal to the Catholic politicians, reminding them that they are the ones who are “called to oppose any political program or draft bill that contains proposals that go against the fundamental content of faith and morals.” And he asked all people to continue being “defenders of the right to life for every human being from conception until natural death and of the family in its unity and integrity.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 23/10/2008)