ASIA/MONGOLIA - The “small Catholic flock” in Mongolia under the patronage of the Holy Family of Nazareth unites in spiritual solidarity with Spanish families to protect the family where life is nurtured and cherished

Ulan Bator (Fides Service) - “We fully support the pro-family demonstration in Spain, Madrid on 18 June. On behalf of the little Church in Mongolia, under the special protection of the Holy Family of Nazareth, I can assure the Church in Spain our prayers and our support”: said Bishop Wenceslao Padilla, Apostolic Prefect of Ulan Bator, who also expressed solidarity with the Church in Spain striving to protect and uphold the family.
Bishop Padilla reminded us that the apostolic prefecture of Mongolia is dedicated to the Holy Family and that the Church as such is called to promote respect for human life from conception to natural end and to protect the family where life is welcomed, nurtured, cherished and educated. The family must be defended by the whole of society. The Bishop has experience of Mongolia where families tend to break up because of alcohol abuse, criminality and other social problems. In this context the Catholic Church in Mongolia promotes its message of the need to preserve family unity and protect human life. And it is having an effect. People are rediscovering belief in God after years of atheist communist regime under which all faiths were penalised. This year at Easter the local Church welcomed 50 newly baptised members and 100 catechumens are following courses of Christian Initiation in view of baptism at Easter 2006. In Mongolia today there are about 300 baptised Catholics
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 15/06/2005 Righe: 22 Parole: 234)