AMERICA/MEXICO - “ No Mexican shall dare attack a new human life developing in the mother's womb”. Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera recalls John Paul II exhortation to safeguard life and ban abortion

Tuesday, 3 April 2007

Mexico City (Fides Service) - “We must say once again in the name of the Church that to have recourse to abortion in any form, to propose and assist abortion is immoral … people who do commit a seriously evil action ": this statement was issued by Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera Archbishop of Mexico City, with the Bishops' Commission Pro-Life a few days before Parliament is due to discuss an extension of legal abortion. In his homily on Palm Sunday the Cardinal defended the Church's right to express her opinion particularly with regard to threats to life. The Cardinal said "life is a gift of God our Father and the Church cannot tolerate any attacks on life, homicide, genocide, abortion, euthanasia, voluntary suicide". The Cardinal asked Catholics to promote a culture of life and to play an active part to protect human life.
At the end of the Mass Auxiliary Bishop Marcelino Hernández, read out a Bishops' statement pro life, "at this time when our society is discussing such an important social and moral questions as the legalisation of abortion, we address all consciences…every human person is entrusted to the maternal concern of the Church and therefore any threat to the life or dignity of a human person challenges the Church's mission to serve humanity". The statement recalls that life is not only of value for believers, "it is a fundamental human value which must be respected and protected in a democratic society". The Bishops say they understand the anguish of abandoned pregnant mothers who are tempted to see the elimination of the little life they carry as the only solution. But abortion is even more serious and harmful than being abandoned “it leaves permanent scars on mind and body and provokes even greater anguish and desperation”.
“Every Mexican should be deeply concerned - the statement continues - that in the name of the right to individual freedom, the state is considering granting not only impunity, but even authorisation to commit in all freedom, free of charge at public health centres crimes against innocent unborn child ". The Bishops recall an exhortation of John Paul II: “No Mexican must dare to attack a human life which is growing in the mother's womb”. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 3/4/2007; righe 32, parole 461)


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