EUROPE/SPAIN - Spanish Bishops give unanimous support to June 18 pro-family demonstration organised by Spanish Family Forum: “this cause is not only just, it is extremely serious because one of society’s most precious goods is at take”

Wednesday, 15 June 2005

Madrid (Fides Service) - With only days to go before Saturday’s pro-family demonstration in Madrid promoted by the Spanish Family Forum to defend real marriage, the organisers continue preparations as they receive countless messages of support from all sectors of society including the Church in Spain. In a message to the nation (see Fides 13/6/2005) the Bishops encourage Catholics to take part in this just cause a “question of utmost moral and social importance which calls for a clear and incisive response from citizens, Catholics in particular with every legitimate means”.
Numerous Bishops have expressed their solidarity and confirmed their participation encouraging their people to do the same. In most parishes in Spain last Sunday leaflets were distributed by diocesan delegates Family and Life and laity councils Council under the supervision of the respective Bishops and Catholics were urged to take part in the June 18 demonstration in the capital.
In his customary Sunday address on Radop COPE Cardinal Antonio Mª Rouco Varela archbishop of Madrid said “matrimony and the family are realities rooted in the very nature of mankind and they cannot therefore be modified, inverted according to personal discretion or manipulated by human powers”. Faced with the legislation the Cardinal asks “how can the conscience of the Christian or any person of good will not react making use of the resources of a free and democratic society?”.
Archbishop Javier Martínez of Granada said “this cause is not only just it is extremely serious” because these new measures “will cause immense damage and destruction and endless suffering in Spain”. He said the law is “evil and a mockery, it discriminates against authentic” and he encourages Catholics to be co-responsible for “the good at stake”. The diocese of Granada has arranged has arranged 22 buses to take participants to Madrid.
In a press statement Bishop Amadeo Rodríguez Magro of Plasencia endorsed the position taken by the national Bishops’ Conference on behalf of all the Bishops of Spain and expressed full support for the demonstration. Bishop Santiago García Aracil of Mérida-Badajoz and Bishop Ciriaco Benavente of Coria-Caceres also voiced support for the June 18 pro-family event encouraging the people to take part “because this is a legitimate way to fulfil one’s duty to serve the common good ”. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 15/6/2005, righe 34, parole 463)


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