AMERICA/PARAGUAY - Chamber of Deputies rejects national plan which goes against life and the family; success for Ecumenical Demonstration which called on legislators to reflect before approving laws contrary to life

Asuncion (Fides Service) - With 57 votes out of 66, Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies rejected a proposed “National programme for the prevention of punishable crimes against sexual autonomy and minors and assistance to victims” presented by senator Carlos Filizzola, sending it back to the Chamber of Senators which should either ratify the law or reject it definitively after approving it last year.
The result obtained in parliament can be considered the fruit of unanimous rejection voiced by the Churches and the people of Paraguay against a proposed law which is against life and the family. This position emerged during an Ecumenical Demonstration on 25 May (see Fides 25/5/2005), with the participation of Catholic Archbishop Pastor Cuquejo of Asuncion, the local Anglican Bishop and the chairman of the Association of Evangelicals Pastors, other clergy and hundreds of faithful.
In his speech on that occasion addressing the country’s legislators Archbishop Cuquejo said: “all Christians in the country are praying that you will not approve laws which relativise life”. He said the country’s laws should always reflect the wishes of the Christian citizens. Anglican Bishop Juan Ellinson called on all Christians to help their families be stronger and more united, give special attention to the education of children, not to give up in the right against relativism, to be strong in the struggle to re-establish moral values. Pastor José Micena defended human life and marriage of a man and a women and on behalf of the Evangelical Churches in the country, voiced firm condemnation of immoral laws which aim to relativise life. (RZ) (Agenzia Fides 28/5/2005, righe 21, parole 304)