AMERICA/MEXICO - Human life from conception to natural end must be respected Bishops launch National Peace and Justice Crusade to fight present situation of violence

Saturday, 21 April 2007

Mexico City (Agenzia Fides) - In several statements issued during their recent plenary assembly the Catholic Bishops of Mexico expressed serious concern for the tragedy of abortion, at present the subject of nation wide public discussion, and for the spiral of growing violence and general social degradation in the country, and confirmed the vital importance of the now imminent 5th General Conference of the Council of Latin American Bishops' Conferences next month in Brazil.
“Protecting the Little Ones” is the title of a statement addressed to all Mexicans in which the bishops expressed “serious concern for human life”, and the need to protect it. "Every day we see initiatives, declarations, concrete measures to promote respect for human rights" the bishops said, but, “we are letting ourselves be invaded by modes of thought and action which continue to configure the culture of death", with " legal norms which claim to consecrate principles contrary to the fundamental right to life". The bishop reaffirmed "no motive, however legitimate it may appear, can ever justify deliberately provoked abortion". "Science confirms - the bishops continued - that even before birth, the conceived human being is a person who has the full and inalienable right to be born and to live, and therefore it is society's duty to guarantee every human life adequate protection ". “If it allows abortion, - the Bishops said - the state will be introducing a principle which legitimates violence on the most defenceless of human beings, it will fail its duty to protect the rights of the weakest citizens and change the Rule of Law into the law of the 'stronger man wins'”. The bishops said society must "safeguard and transmit human values and sustain in the mind of the nation respect for human life from its origin".
In another statement "To Believe in God is to Believe in Life " the bishops expressed concern for the situation of spreading violence, organised crime, drug trafficking, corruption, terror, and arms race and they said. "These are sins which reveal a deep crisis due to a loss of the sense of God", the faith professed by Catholics has been separated from day to day living. At the same time the bishops thanked those who risk their own lives to provide security for others, and urged all Mexican Christians not to expect "others to find solutions these problems must be faced by all together". They ask those involved in drug trafficking to change and convert their hearts to God's love. "Let us propose a culture of life anchored to the reinvigoration of the family, nucleus of social harmony, transmitter of cultural, moral social and spiritual values.". The Bishops concluded: "We call civil and business organisations, institutes of education, the media, our political leaders to join forces in a National Peace and Justice Crusade". (RG) (Agenzia Fides 21/4/2007; righe 32, parole 461)


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