Questions arise about scholars who collaborated in National Geographic’s Gospel of Judas presentation
Washington D.C., Apr 24, 2006 (CNA) - Questions
have arisen about the group of scholars who collaborated with National
Geographic in its recent T.V. special about the “discovery” and
contents of the alleged Gospel of Judas, which attempts to portray
Jesus’ betrayer in a positive light.
Elaine Pagels is
a feminist who has written several books against the Catholic Church,
such as “The Origin of Satan,” written with the initial help of her
colleagues at the Hebrew University of Tel Aviv. With the
assistance of the openly pro-abortion MacArthur Foundation, she
researched and wrote “Adam, Eve and the Serpent,” in which she accused
Christianity of offering a distorted image of women.
Pagels admits
she was raised an atheist and that her father taught her that religion
was “a children’s fantasy.” Her opinion, which was posted on the
National Geographic website, is that texts like the Gospel of Judas are
“changing the way in which we understand the beginnings of
Christianity.” According to Pagels, the story of the betrayal of
Judas gave birth to an anti-Semitic sentiment among Christians.
Pagels support
for the exhibit “Art, Religion and Resistance,” which featured Andres
Serrano’s blasphemous “Piss Christ,” is well known. In an
interview, she defended Serrano in the wake of a scandal in the U.S.
Senate over the use of public funds for art exhibits, saying, “Any
person who studies what I study is doing that (same kind of work)
also.” “Serrano comes from a devout Catholic family,” she claimed.
Christians as anti-Semites
Another of the
scholars sought out by National Geographic was Amy Jill Levine, a
member of pro-abortion feminist groups as well as the Anti-Defamation
League. She believes Christians have been generally anti-Semitic
since the time of Jesus, as evidenced in a talk she gave entitled,
“Christians say the craziest things (about Jews).”
She participated
in an analysis of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ”—before the
movie was actually filmed—in which she claimed the movie was
anti-Semitic. Levine, who calls herself a “Jewish feminist
Yankee,” said at that time that “Hollywood can easily change the
truth,” in reference to Gibson’s film.
Levine claimed
that those who composed and copied the Gospel of Judas “challenged the
traditional characterization of Judas as a villain, espoused a stricter
sexual ethic than the canonical gospels, and offered an alternative
theology to both the proto-Orthodox church and the Synagogue.
Judas, the closest friend of Jesus
Another expert
for the project was Bart Ehrman, head of the Religious Studies
Department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In
works such as “Does Historical Evidence for the Resurrection Exist?”
and “Lost Christianities,” which present information from the Gnostic
sects of the first centuries, Ehrman casts doubt on the very existence
of Jesus.
He has also
written “Truths and Myths of the Da Vinci Code” in which he attributes
some truthfulness to the Dan Brown novel. He exempts Jews from
guilt for the crucifixion of Jesus and blames the Romans alone because
he says Jesus represented a threat for the empire.
Ehrman told
National Geographic that the text portrays Judas as “not the evil,
corrupt, devil-inspired follower of Jesus who betrayed his master; he
is instead Jesus' closest intimate and friend, the one who understood
Jesus better than anyone else, who turned Jesus over to the authorities
because Jesus wanted him to do so.”
Marvin Meyer is
another scholar who collaborated with National Geographic.
Several of his works, including “The Gnostic Discoveries”, “The Gnostic
Gospels of Jesus”, “The Unknown Sayings of Jesus”, “The Gospels of Mary
and Secret Gospels: Essays on Thomas” and “The Secret Gospel of Mark”,
were used by Dan Brown as an influence for “The Da Vinci Code”.
Meyer is Griset
Professor of Biblical and Christian Studies at Chapman University in
Orange, California, and director of the Chapman University Albert
Schweitzer Institute.
Stephen Emmel,
another expert, contradicted himself regarding the age of the Gospel of
Judas during a National Geographic press conference. Initially he
said the text dated to 400 A.D., but later he said it was written in
300 A.D. The program however, claims the text was penned in 200
A.D.
Emmel is a
professor of Coptology at the Institute of Egyptology and Coptology at
the University of Münster in Germany. “We can all be grateful to
the National Geographic Society for its effort to rescue this unique
artifact for the good of science and for posterity," he said.
Craig Evans and
Francois Gaudard are two other experts who collaborated with National
Geographic. Evans, who has taught a various universities, denies
that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, does not believe in the
resurrection of Jesus or in his miracles and has written several works
on the Gnostic sects in which he refers to the supposed anti-Semitism
of Christians.
Gaudard, an
Egyptologist and research associate at the Oriental Institute of the
University of Chicago, told National Geographic, “This text not only
seriously challenges one of the most firmly rooted beliefs in Christian
tradition, but also reduces one of the favorite themes of anti-Semitism
to nothing."
Vatican office clarifies: teaching on condoms and AIDS will not change
Vatican City, Apr 24, 2006 (CNA) - An
official from the Pontifical Council for Health and Pastoral Care,
presided by Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragán, made it clear today that
the recent interview given by the Mexican prelate to the Italian daily
La Reppublica, doesn’t hint at any change in the doctrine of the Church
on the use of condoms to fight Aids.
Over the
weekend, numerous dailies and news agencies have headlined the
Cardinal’s interview, in which he declared that: "This is a very
difficult and delicate subject that requires prudence. My department is
studying this closely with scientists and theologians expressly
assigned to draft a document that will be issued soon," he said.
The prelate’s
declarations became the basis of heavy speculations, especially his
thoughts on making “the Church’s position more flexible,” in respect to
the use of condoms.
Nevertheless,
Msgr. Antonio Soto Guerrero, personal secretary of Cardinal Lozano
Barragán, and member of the Pontifical Council for Health, told CNA
that “the Doctrine of the Church remains firmly within the principles
of Catholic moral. Facing AIDS, there is abstinence; we cannot forget
that the issue has to do in large parts to a moral disorder facing the
seventh commandment.”
In his remarks
to CNA, Msgr. Soto said that “indeed, the Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith , headed by Cardinal William Joseph Levada, is currently
studying the possibility of drafting a document on the same issue, and
for that reason he has asked for the opinion of the other dicasteries
in the Vatican. “
“Our dicasteries
have already sent very serious studies from members and consulters who
are answering to consultations requested by the Congregation (for the
Doctrine of the Faith). The Congregation will then carry out a thorough
study that will last a few months before presenting the conclusions to
the Pope, who will subsequently decide of the publication of a
document.”
“The moral
principle of the Church is the same,” he stressed, “but the situations
we have to face changed. It’s rather about applying the doctrine of the
Church to always new situations such as AIDS,” said Msgr. Soto.
“Let me take a
specific example”, he told CNA, in which one member of a couple “has
AIDS, and requests matrimony, has the other partner the right to
protect his health in any way?”
“The principle”,
he said, “remains the defense of life and the conscience that
everything that sends back to the fifth commandment includes the
seventh one too, the act of fornicating that implies defending life.”
Church has not changed position on respect for human life, other moral issues, says Msgr. Sgreccia
Vatican City, Apr 24, 2006 (CNA) -
The president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Msgr.
Elio Sgreccia, responded to statements by Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini,
published Friday by the online Italian magazine “L’Espresso,” and said
the Catholic Church has not changed her position on fundamental issues
such as the right to life from conception to natural death.
In
a conversation with the Catholic News Agency, the prelate preferred not
to directly address the statements by Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini,
Archbishop emeritus of Milan, saying instead that “at the Vatican, we
do not consider it necessary make a controversy out of something that
does not merit it.”
Referring
to an interview he gave on Saturday to the Italian daily “Corriere
della Sera,” Msgr. Sgreccia said the “union of the feminine chromosome
and the masculine chromosome contains in itself two pro-nuclei, and it
is a fertilized ovum in which the process of fertilization has already
begun.” This fusion of the nuclei in the cytoplasm of the ovum, he
continued, is what results in creation of a new individual or
individuals, in the case of twins.
“This
beginning,” Msgr. Sgreccia pointed out, in contrast to statements by
Cardinal Martini, is “precisely the beginning of an individual life and
leads to an irreversible process towards successive development,
containing already at that point a unique [genetic] patrimony.”
Msgr.
Sgreccia also referred to artificial, or “in vitro,” fertilization,
pointing out that “in artificial procreation-fertilization, the unitive
dimension of the spouses, expressed through the gift of self in the
conjugal act, is missing. This anthropological dimension has been
considered essential for the legitimacy of the procreative act since
the teachings of Pius XII on insemination and successively with Paul VI
and John Paul II.”
Regarding
the use of the condom, even in order to prevent the spread of AIDS,
Msgr. Sgreccia said, “Let us remember that scientifically it does not
offer complete protection,” and therefore “the most effective method of
prevention is in the correct use of sexuality, which consists of
chastity and fidelity.”
Pope to Jesuits: continue important apostolate, but maintain intact the true spirit of founder St. Ignatius
Vatican City, Apr 24, 2006 (CNA) - Meeting
with leaders of the Society of Jesus, commonly known as the Jesuits,
Pope Benedict affirmed the genuine cultural need for the group’s
apostolate but charged them to maintain the true spirit of their 16th
century founder, St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Gathering in St.
Peter’s Basilica Saturday morning, the Vatican’s Cardinal Secretary of
State Angelo Sodano celebrated Mass with leaders of the Jesuit order
who are currently celebrating the fifth centenary of the births of St.
Francis Xavier and Blessed Pierre Favre.
Following Mass,
Pope Benedict met with visiting participants, expressing his thanks to
God for having given the Society "the gift of men of extraordinary
sanctity and exceptional apostolic zeal such as St. Ignatius Loyola,
St. Francis Xavier and Blessed Pierre Favre."
May they be enlightened and dependable guides”, he told the group, “for your spiritual journey and your apostolic activity."
The Holy Father
began by recalling St. Ignatius Loyola who, he said, was "a man of deep
prayer, the center and summit of whose life was the daily celebration
of the Eucharist. In this way, he left followers a precious spiritual
heritage which must not be lost or forgotten."
Pointing to St.
Ignatius’s faithful service to the Church, Benedict addressed some of
"the Church's must urgent current requirements" today, including
"cultural commitment in the fields of theology and philosophy, ... and
the dialogue with modern culture ... so deeply marked by positivist and
materialist scientism."
In this light, he said that promoting "a culture inspired by Gospel values requires intense spiritual and cultural preparation."
The Pope
recalled that another major concern of St. Ignatius was "the Christian
education and cultural formation of the young,” telling the group to
“Continue this important apostolate, while upholding intact the spirit
of your Founder."
Moving to the
life of St. Francis Xavier, the Pope recalled how Pope Pius XI
proclaimed him as "patron saint of Catholic missions." And although
"his mission in the East lasted just ten years, it has proved
remarkably fruitful over the four and a half centuries of life of the
Society of Jesus, because his example encouraged many missionary
vocations among young Jesuits."
It still continues, he added, to be a model for "missionary activity in the great countries of the continent of Asia."
Lastly, the Holy
Father recalled Blessed Pierre Favre, who "spent his brief life in
various European countries, especially Germany where, by order of Pope
Paul III, he took part ... in discussions with the leaders of the
Reformation. Thus he had an exceptional opportunity to practice the vow
of special obedience to the Pope 'concerning missions,' becoming a
model for all future Jesuits to follow."
Pope Benedict
concluded his address pointing to April 22, 1541, the date on which
“St. Ignatius and his first followers made their solemn vows before the
image of Mary in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the Walls." Here, the
Pope called on the Virgin Mary to continue her watch over the Society
of Jesus.
Divine Mercy is no ‘secondary devotion’ but an integral dimension of Christian faith, prayer, says Pope
Vatican City, Apr 24, 2006 (CNA) - Over
50,000 people gathered a the Vatican yesterday for the celebration of
Divine Mercy Sunday, which Pope Benedict called an integral dimension
to the faith and prayer life of all Christians.
The Pope’s words
came prior to praying the Regina Coeli, which replaces the traditional
Angelus prayer during the season of Easter. He used the opportunity to
praise the late John Paul II, who both initiated the yearly Divine
Mercy celebration and died on its occasion one year ago.
Benedict began
his address to the crowd by quoting the Gospel of John, which recounts
Jesus' appearance to His disciples gathered in the Upper Room on the
evening of the "first day of the week" and then again "eight days
later."
"From the very
beginning,” the Holy Father said, “the Christian community began to
live according to a weekly rhythm marked by the meeting with the Risen
Lord."
He pointed out
that this rhythm is underlined by the Vatican Council II Constitution
"Sacrosanctum Concilium", which says, "By a tradition handed down from
the apostles which took its origin from the very day of Christ's
resurrection, the Church celebrates the Paschal mystery every eighth
day; with good reason this, then, bears the name of the Lord's day or
Sunday."
Pope Benedict
went on to say that the wounds which Christ showed the apostles on both
of the recorded occasions "are an inexhaustible fount of faith, hope
and love from which everyone can draw, especially the souls that most
thirst for divine mercy."
Likewise, he
recalled his predecessor John Paul II, who "wished the Sunday after
Easter to be particularly dedicated to Divine Mercy; and Providence
ordained that he himself should die on the eve of that day."
The pontiff
added that "The mystery of God's merciful love lay at the center of the
pontificate of my venerated predecessor. We particularly recall his
1980 Encyclical 'Dives in misericordia' and his dedication of the new
Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow, Poland in 2002.”
“The words he
pronounced on that occasion”, Benedict mused, “were like a summary of
his entire Magisterium, highlighting how the cult of divine mercy is no
secondary form of devotion, but an integral dimension of a Christian's
faith and prayer."
The Pope
concluded his Sunday address by calling on "Most Holy Mary, Mother of
the Church ... to enable all Christians fully to experience Sunday as
'the Easter of the week,' savoring the beauty of the encounter with the
Risen Lord and drawing from the fount of His merciful love in order to
be apostles of His peace."
He also recalled
that Sunday was the first day of Easter for the world’s Eastern
Christians. "In the festive climate of this day," he said, "I cannot
fail to recall that many of these people - in Serbia, Romania, and
Bulgaria - are suffering because of the flooding of recent days.”
He assured them
of his closeness to them “in prayer” and expressed his “heartfelt hope
that, with a contribution from everyone, they may soon overcome these
difficult moments."
Catholics, Protestants join to disprove claims of Da Vinci Code
Denver, Colo., Apr 24, 2006 (CNA) - Catholic
and Protestant churches in Colorado are joining forces to rebut the
claims made about Christianity in the The Da Vinci Code before it hits
movie theaters May 19, reported the Denver Rocky Mountain News. They
say they want to counter the story's fabrications, not boycott the book
or movie.
Focus on the
Family in Colorado Springs is encouraging viewers to also look at
resources by Christian scholars at go.family.org/davinci.
The Catholic
Church wouldn't be responsible if it ignored the questions generated by
Da Vinci, said Jeanette DeMelo, communications director for the
Archdiocese of Denver.
“We want to make sure the truth is known," DeMelo told the newspaper.
The archdiocese
launched a mega campaign to educate clergy and lay people last week
through a website (www.archden.org) inviting readers to learn the facts
about Church history and Opus Dei.
In coming weeks,
all priests will receive a book, The Da Vinci Deception, as well as
talking points for homilies. The site also lists free, two-hour
workshops given in Denver-area parishes by about a dozen seminarian
volunteers.
Evangelical
churches also have a stake in the fight, said Kyle Fisk, executive
administrator of the National Association of Evangelicals.
“Evangelicals
place a high, high, high value on the role of Jesus Christ; that's our
focus," Fisk told the newspaper. "We certainly have theological
differences [with Catholics] but there's a lot of unity in the body of
Christ right now and we recognize we have some common world views, and
we can work together."
The National
Association of Evangelicals is distributing materials put out by
Mission America. Mission America has scheduled national conference
calls with 480 pastors and church leaders to talk about the movie.
Pope Benedict to Ghana Bishops: Build up young people, strong marriages, suitable candidates for the priesthood
Vatican City, Apr 24, 2006 (CNA) - Meeting
with a group of prelates from the Catholic Bishops Conference of Ghana,
Pope Benedict XVI said today that despite many economic and social
struggles in the African country, that the Church continues to shine
forth as “a beacon of hope” for Christians.
During his
address, the Holy Father told the bishops--in Italy for their “ad
limina” visits--that they "have all come to Rome, this city where the
Apostles Peter and Paul gave of themselves completely in imitation of
Christ. ... The gift of self to the other is also at the heart of the
Sacrament of Holy Orders.”
“Those who receive this sacrament”, he stressed, “are configured in a particular way to Christ, the Head of the Church."
The Pope went on
to praise recent efforts in Ghana "to deal with the scourge of poverty
and to strengthen the economy,” but pointed out that “Notwithstanding
this laudable progress, much still remains to be done to overcome this
condition which impedes a large portion of the population.”
“Extreme and
widespread poverty”, he said, “often results in a general moral decline
leading to crime, corruption, attacks on the sanctity of human life or
even a return to the superstitious practices of the past."
The Pope said
that in the midst of this tenuous struggle however, the Church "shines
forth as a beacon of hope in the life of the Christian, ... by helping
the faithful gain a better understanding of the promises of Jesus
Christ," and forming them "to deepen their Christian faith and thus
enable them to take their rightful place both in the Church of Christ
and in society."
In this light,
he particularly praised the work of the country’s catechists, although
noting that they "are often impeded in their task by a lack of
resources or hostile environments."
He also invited
the bishops "to ensure that these evangelists receive the spiritual,
doctrinal, moral and material support they require to carry out their
mission properly."
Observing that
in Ghana, "young people constitute almost half of the population,”
Benedict stressed that “A solid catechetical foundation…will strengthen
them in their Catholic identity and give them the necessary tools to
confront the challenges of changing economic realities, globalization
and disease. It will also assist them in responding to the arguments
often put forward by religious sects."
The Pope went on
to highlight "the Church's task to assist Christian families to live
faithfully and generously as true 'domestic churches',” reiterating the
bishops' own concern "about the proper celebration of Christian
marriage in Ghana.”
“While
Christianity”, he said, “always seeks to respect the venerable
traditions of cultures and peoples, it also seeks to purify those
practices which are contrary to the Gospel."
He said that
"For this reason, it is essential that the entire Catholic community
continue to stress the importance of the monogamous and indissoluble
union of man and woman, consecrated in holy matrimony. For the
Christian, traditional forms of marriage can never be a substitute for
sacramental marriage."
Pope Benedict
also addressed the question of the priesthood, saying that it "must
never be seen as a way of improving one's social standing or standard
of living. If it is, then priestly gift of self and docility to God's
designs will give way to personal desires, rendering the priest
ineffective and unfulfilled."
The Holy Father
closed his address by encouraging the bishop’s efforts "to ensure the
suitability of candidates for the priesthood and to guarantee proper
priestly formation for those who are studying for the sacred ministry."
He also pointed
out that this year will mark 500 years since the arrival of
missionaries in northern Ghana, saying, "It is my special prayer that
missionary zeal will continue to fill you and your beloved people,
strengthening you in your efforts to spread the Gospel."
Church in Latin America, worldwide should draw inspiration from life of St. Toribio, says Pope
Vatican City, Apr 24, 2006 (CNA) - As
the Catholic Church in Latin America prepares to celebrate the 400th
anniversary of the death of its patron Saint, St. Toribio de Mogrovejo,
the Vatican has released Pope Benedict’s official message for the event
in which he recalls the Saint’s profound impact on the region and the
world.
St. Toribio was
the second archbishop of Lima, Peru and celebrations for his feast are
being held in Lima from April 24th through the 29th.
In his message
for the occasion, Pope Benedict XVI addressed Cardinal Juan Luis
Cipriani Thorne, archbishop of Lima, as well as the bishops, priests,
religious and laity from around Latin America participating in the
event.
He invited them
to "consider this anniversary as a providential opportunity to
reactivate the journey of the Church in the various dioceses, drawing
inspiration from the life and work of St. Toribio."
That saint, the
Holy Father wrote, "distinguished himself for his selfless commitment
to the edification and consolidation of the ecclesial communities of
his day. He did so with a great spirit of communion and collaboration,
always seeking unity as is shown by his calling of the third provincial
council of Lima (1582-1583), ... one fruit of which was the so-called
Catechism of St. Toribio."
The pontiff also highlighted the conciliar seminary in Lima, founded by St. Toribio which still exists today.
He expressed his
particular hope that the seminary "may continue to give abundant fruit,
precisely at a time when it is urgently necessary to promote vocations
to the priesthood and consecrated life in order to face the immense
task of building Christian communities that gather joyfully on Sunday,
perform the Sacraments, foment spiritual life, transmit and cultivate
the faith, bear witness of resolute hope, and always practice charity."
"St. Toribio's
profound missionary spirit," the Holy Father continued, was apparent in
"his efforts to learn various languages in order to be able to preach
personally to all those entrusted to his pastoral care."
The Pope
concluded his message saying that this fact "was also a sign of his
respect for the dignity of all human beings, whatever their condition,
in whom he always sought to promote the joy of feeling themselves to be
true children of God."
Christian coalition disappointed by Bush's apology to Chinese president
Washington D.C., Apr 24, 2006 (CNA) - President
George W. Bush should have taken a stronger stand on the human rights
violations and religious persecution by the Chinese government on the
Falun Gong at an April 20 press conference, says the Christian Defense
Coalition.
Bush reportedly
apologized to Chinese President Hu Jintao after a Falun Gong activist
at the press conference shouted for Bush to help end Chinese religious
persecution against the group.
The coalition
believes Bush’s response to the episode should have focused on the
human rights violations and the religious persecution by the Chinese
government.
“The focus of
the episode at [the] news conference should not have been an apology by
President Bush,” said Fr. Patrick Mahoney, the director of the
coalition. “Rather, it should have been an honest and open dialogue by
the White House on human rights and religious freedom.”
The coalition is also calling on the U.S. government to drop criminal charges against religious rights activist Wenyi Wang.
“It was also
troubling to see the repeated characterization of Wenyi Wang by the
national press as a heckler,” he said. “This woman was simply
attempting to draw public attention to the religious persecution of the
Falun Gong by the Chinese government.”
Dean tells churches, religious groups: ‘give up religion or stay out of politics’
Washington D.C., Apr 24, 2006 (CNA) - Recent
comments made by Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National
Committee, make it “clear that he wants to muzzle America's churches
and religious groups from professing what they believe on important
issues facing our society,” said a national Catholic-based advocacy
group.
Fidelis was
reacting to an article in Christian Science Monitor in which Dean said:
“The religious community has to decide whether they want to be
tax-exempt or involved in politics.”
“When it comes
to debates over public policy and issues, Dean should be welcoming the
voice of America’s churches, not attempting to silence them,” said
Fidelis president Joseph Cella. “Instead, Dean has shown utter
disregard for people of faith by threatening the historical and
treasured role of religious groups and churches in American public
life.”
“Under Howard
Dean's rules, pastors, priests, and rabbis wouldn't have been able to
mobilize people of faith to join the civil rights marches in Selma and
Montgomery,” said Cella.
“In essence,
Dean is saying that if religious groups want to continue to speak out,
then the hand of government is going to exact a penalty,” Cella
continued. Comments like these alienate religious voters, he added.
“Dean's blatant
hostility toward any church or religious group calls into serious
question his supposed outreach to values-voters following the 2004
elections,” Cella suggested.
Vatican could take action against Irish priests who celebrated Easter Mass with Protestant clergy
Belfast, UK, Apr 24, 2006 (CNA) - Three
Augustinian priests who concelebrated Easter Mass with a Church of
Ireland clergyman could be dismissed from the priesthood by the
Vatican, reported the Sunday Business Post.
Augustinian
Fathers Iggy O’Donovan, Noel Hession and Richard Goode invited Rev
Michael Graham, the rector of St Peter’s in Drogheda, to join them for
the Mass.
Archbishop Sean
Brady is carrying out investigations. Because this involves a religious
order, the final outcome would be a matter for the Augustinians.
The Vatican’s
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has exclusive powers
to deal with the concelebration of the mass with non-Catholic clergy.
After such an
event, the bishop has to carry out a preliminary investigation and then
report to the CDF. If the bishop decides the accused clergymen should
be dismissed from the priesthood, he may ask the CDF to “impose
dismissal by decree”.
One Vatican
source told the Business Post that, “Canon 1365 of the Code of Canon
Law prescribes a ‘just penalty’ for anyone guilty of prohibited
participation in such religious rites.” Several factors to be taken
into consideration include the gravity of the offence, its frequency,
the possible scandal caused and the impact on ecumenical dialogue.
“This canon
highlights the importance and the delicacy of the Church’s apostolate
towards ecumenism and testifies that, if the Church is to remain
faithful to itself and to the ultimate success of the ecumenical
movement, it must remain faithful to its own teaching.”
Pro-family groups call on Spanish government to better support pregnant women
Madrid, Spain, Apr 24, 2006 (CNA) - In
the wake of a poll conducted by the Institute for Family Policy in
Spain, which showed that most Spaniards consider the government’s
efforts to address unwanted pregnancies a failure, several pro-family
groups are calling on the government to reconsider its position and
provide better assistance to pregnant women.
The results of
the poll, which were made public last Thursday, showed that 78% of
Spaniards believe the government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero should
inform women about alternatives to abortion and its negative
consequences.
The pro-family
group “There Are Alternatives” said the growing awareness about
abortion in Spain was positive and that with the new information; the
Ministry of Health has an opportunity to address the problem with
protection measures for pregnant women.
“Spain is at a
historic crossroads when it comes to the drama of abortion, and it is
the government which, at the national level must offer protection
measures for pregnant women and for newborns, thus promoting real
freedom to be mothers,” the group said in a statement.
The president of
the civil rights watchdog website HazteOir.org, Ignacio Arsuaga, said
the poll reveals that “abortion is a grave problem about which many
citizens are not aware and numerous public administrations and the
Ministry of Health do not seem interested, given their refusal to meet
with associations that offer outreach to pregnant women and
newborns.”
He said the
government ought to promote ways to assist pregnant women and sensitize
people about the positive social value of motherhood.
The Spanish
Forum on the Family, for its part, is calling on political leaders to
increase assistance to pregnant women through information about
childbirth, pregnancy and motherhood. The group has also
requested a meeting with Spain’s Minister of Health, Elena Salgado, to
present a program it has developed to offer medical, psychological and
material help to pregnant women throughout the country.
