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Acapulco (Agenzia Fides) – Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa (Honduras), Bishop Marcelino Hernandez of Orizaba (Mexico), and Archbishop Felipe Aguirre Franco of Acapulco (Mexico), agree in indicating the need to combat the drug problem directly with a joint strategy that goes far beyond the simple use of force. During a press conference, convened by representatives of the Bishops as the issue of legalizing marijuana and other drugs in order to avoid trafficking is being discussed at a political level in Mexico, Cardinal Rodriguez Maradiaga said that narco-trafficking is a cancer in Latin America and that its development has resulted in substantial damage to the various countries where it is active. Along with this scourge has cited the "narco-trade, which uses money derived from that activity to spread moral corruption and upset the hierarchy of values, giving rise to great confusion among children and young people. In such a situation, noted the Cardinal, the legalization of drugs is not the solution to end this scourge. As has been reported in countries where consumption has been authorized, there was the opposite effect, i.e. the number of people involved significantly increased.
"You end up with a frustration of youth and young people die. Instead, they should fight with all possible force and not succumb to this scourge,” said Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga. “In Mexico they are fighting hard. It's difficult, it is a war, but they should not give up, because if they give up, there will be no future for young people, nor for the values that should strengthen the family.” The Cardinal acknowledged that the climate of violence being lived around the world has forced society to remain silent as any attempt to denounce it is preceded by a series of threats, and revealed that he too had been threatened. "Today, denouncing these things implies personal commitment, but it is our duty because this disease can wipe out an entire country," said the Cardinal. The Mexican Bishops who were present at the meeting, spoke of citizens' rights and religious freedom and showed their agreement with Cardinal Rodriguez Maradiaga. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 23/01/2010)
