EUROPE/SPAIN - Catholic Bishops denounce spreading culture of death which robs man of his fundamental rights and dilutes society’s awareness of the value of life and the dignity of every human person : Message for the annual Day for Life

Friday, 23 March 2007

Madrid (Fides Service) - In a message for the national Day for Life in Spain, March 25th , the country’s Catholic Bishops write “As the Bishops of the ‘People of Life’ we denounce a spreading culture of death and a vision of man which robs him of his fundamental rights and dilutes society’s awareness of the value of life and the dignity of every human person… after amendments to the law Spain’s legislation is among those in the world which offer less protection to human life … our institutions foster sexual promiscuity…many pressure groups and media are promoting legalisation of free abortion and euthanasia… these major "cultural challenges", unprecedented changes in the hearts and minds of our families and all society, call for a response at various levels".
Among the responses the Bishops include effective assistance and support for mothers "it is not enough to encourage a woman to resist pressure to abort, she must be given the necessary concrete assistance ". Many women abort their child because they are alone therefore "it is society’s responsibility to enable women to choose to keep the child". What is needed, the bishops say, is a change of heart in order to promote a culture of life. "We support the culture of death if we give in to a consumer mentality, if we make power, money, status or success, the criteria which regulate the value of human life". The Bishops say conversion is the first responsibility for Catholics and urge prominent citizens, academic and cultural institutions, universities to support the cause for life". Underlining the need to work on laws and social policies the Bishops appeal to society and MPs to abolish the cases in which abortion is de-penalised and to healthcare centres to reject such abuses.
The Bishops say a campaign to promote social acceptance of euthanasia is pure manipulation. They underline the importance of treatment to alleviate pain and suffering and special support for the terminally ill also with regard to a temptation to desperation and suicide. The Bishops stress the need to promote a culture of respect for dignity of the sick person and the value of every human life and underline the immorality of euthanasia." The Bishops conclude reminding Catholics of their common responsibility to promote respect for life, "each according to his or her possibilities, to prevent the spread in society of a culture of death and laws which are anti-life". (RG) (Agenzia Fides 23/3/2007; righe 37, parole 522)


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