EUROPE/SPAIN - Muslim and Jewish communities in Spain assure support for demonstration pro-family and real matrimony. At least 20 bishops will take part

Thursday, 16 June 2005

Madrid (Fides Service) - Support for the pro-family demonstration on June 18 in Madrid has been voiced by Imam Seg Munir of the Great Mosque in Madrid, the Spanish Federation of Jewish Communities and by representatives of other religious confessions. The event which aims to defend authentic marriage and family is organised by the Spanish Family Forum and already 20 Spanish Bishops have said they will take part in the march in the capital at 6pm on Saturday.
The Bishops who have announced their presence include Cardinal Antonio Mª Rouco Varela with auxiliary bishops Eugenio Romero Pose, Cesar A. Franco and. Fidel Herraez and Bishop Joaquín López de Andújar of Getafe, and Bishop Jesús Catalá of Alcalá de Henares; the archbishop of Toledo Antonio Cañizares and auxiliary.
Toledo diocesan laity council has urged people to take part: “we cannot stand and watch. It is our duty and right as citizens to make it known that we firm refuse these laws” the council said.
In a pastoral letter Bishop Jesús Sanz Montes of Huesca wrote “the demonstration organised by the Family Forum to defend marriage and the family is the nation’s last chance to say it rejects any substitute for something which is essential and determinant in the life of individuals and the life of society”.
Bishop Juan García Santacruz Ortiz of Guadix said he joined “numerous Bishops in Spain who support the demonstration on June 18: “we do not deny homosexuals our respect, acceptance and our love for them as children of God, but we refuse to accept that their unions can be given the same status as marriage”.
The office for Family Pastoral of the archdiocese of Oviedo said “it is a democratic right and a responsibility to intervene with regard to what is best for matrimony and the family with collection of signatures or taking part in the June 18 demonstration in Madrid. The future of society is being forged today and we urge all Catholics and men and women of good will to participate in the demonstration with responsibility to demand that the government withdraw the law which would give same sex unions the status of marriage”.
In a recent pastoral letter Bishop Antonio Dorato of Malaga said in Spain today Christians are being tortured ‘not physically but psychologically which is no less painful and serious’. In a statement distributed to parishes by the diocesan Family Pastoral Office the Bishop expressed full support for the June 18 demonstration. (R.G.) (Agenzia Fides 16/6/2005, righe 37, parole 492)


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