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Rome (Agenzia Fides) – Cardinal Rosalio Castillo Lara, a Salesian from Venezuela, President emeritus of Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See and President emeritus of the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State, just days prior to his passing away, offered his moving testimony in an interview with Agenzia Fides on the issues of life and poverty. We wish to publish it for the great relevance it holds for today's world.
“The problem of poverty is certainly a serious one. I could almost describe it as a tragic situation for us, however the use of sterilization as a solution to the euthanasia of poverty is completely mistaken. On our continent of South America, we are deeply affected by the masses of people living in poverty, lacking education, housing, and job opportunities. However, I repeat that it is not in taking lives that we can work to establish greater wealth and eliminate poverty. This is a very simple-minded solution, and it cannot lead to the results it intends. Rather, it is through an integral education, sowing ethical, religious, and moral principals and values, that we can show people how to live well and find an honest job.” (Agenzia Fides 23/1/2009)
