Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bogota (Agenzia Fides) - In his opening address to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Colombia is meeting for its 81 plenary assembly in Bogota from 24 to 28 July Conference president Archbishop Luis Augusto Castro Quiroga of Tunja reaffirmed three non negotiable principles sustained by the Church and threatened in Colombia: life, family and education.
The first principle regards the move to de-penalise abortion in Colombia. Archbishop Castro Quiroga said people must understand that "abortion, an openly immoral a crime against innocent life, does not become legal with a Court decision", since abortion is an immoral act contrary to the law of God.
With regard to a new law in favour of homosexual unions he recalls "the Church can never approve homosexual unions which are contrary to natural moral law and marriage can only exist between a man and a woman, who through reciprocal self giving generate and educate new life”. The Church cannot accept "juridical recognition of same sex unions because there is no foundation".
With regard to religious instruction in schools, Archbishop Castro Quiroga said pending a decree on religious education "in our pastoral work we must remind parents of their right to demand religious education for their children and inform them how to exercise this right".
Latin America is a young continent of lights and shadows the Archbishop recalled in his address. Lights include the Church in America with almost half the Catholics in the world 495 million Catholics in a population of a total 606 million; 897 active Bishops 90 of them Colombian; 41,347 diocesan priests 5,922 of them Colombian and 22,547 religious priests 1,865 of them Colombians; 120.301 women religious, including 14,632 Colombian. The continent has 20 Pontifical universities and 61 Catholic universities. Shadows highlighted by the Archbishop included a Catholic identity weak in one fundamental aspect, an encounter with the living Christ, and insufficient missionary awareness and commitment.
He highlighted challenges today facing the Catholic Church in Latin America and the Caribbean today: insufficient number of priests and major seminarians, poor condition of women, racial tensions, lack of respect for human rights, difficult conditions of peasants, scarce more Christian presence in culture and media and peace building, promote just migratory reform.
The Archbishop concluded his address with these words "As we start this plenary assembly, with which we intend to give a contribution to the 5th CELAM Conference and discuss serious difficulties today in Colombia, we invoke the light of the Holy Spirit and the maternal company of the Blessed Virgin Mary invoked under many titles which render her dear and close to the pain and hopes of all Latin Americans and Colombians". (RG) (Agenzia Fides 25/7/2006; righe 39, parole 548)
