Buenos Aires, Argentina, Jun 1, 2005 / 12:00 am (CNA).- Marking Argentina’s National Day of Organ Donation, Archbishop Jose Maria Arancedo of Santa Fe said the Church accepts and promotes the donation of organs as long as it is done according to acceptable ethical criteria in order to offer the hope of cure to someone who is ill. The archbishop quoted the words of the late Pope John Paul II, who said, “Special recognition should be given to the donation of organs, done according to acceptable ethical criteria in order to offer the possibility of a cure or even life to the infirm who are perhaps without hope.”

Archbishop Arancedo emphasized the need for ethics and responsibility during the donation of organs and he warned that “the Church always respects the will and the freedom of people, and therefore this is not an imposition.”

The archbishop established May 30 as the National Day of Organ Donation in order to commemorate the birthday of a girl who was able to be born thanks to a kidney transplant she received from her mother.

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