AMERICA/CHILE - To stabilise a frequent dialogue with the Church on fundamental values: initiative by Catholic parliamentarians

Santiago (Agenzia Fides) – Members of the Independent Democratic Union Party (UDI), Gonzalo Arenas and Gustavo Hasbun, have asked Archbishop Ricardo Ezzati of Santiago, for the creation of an opportunity for dialogue between parliamentarians and the Church. According to information gathered by Fides, the request was made during a meeting at the headquarters of the Archdiocese of Santiago. The preparation of draft laws concerning issues such as therapeutic abortion, de-facto unions and and marriage between homosexuals are among the issues that, according to members, are necessary to discuss in advance to take a common position with their colleagues when voting in Congress.
“It will be a year of rather complex legislation in terms of values,” Hasbun told the newspaper “La Nacion”, “and so it is necessary to attempt to reach common positions and adopt approaches that allow us to address the various issues to be discussed in Parliament this year.” Bishop Ezzati, for his part, said that there are common positions among Christian churches on these issues and the proposals in the parliament must represent the vast majority of the country. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 05/02/2011)