Madrid, Spain, May 4, 2004 / 22:00 pm
In his address to the Spanish Bishops Conference meeting this week in Madrid, Conference president Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco said the principal issue that the bishops need to face is the "internal secularization which is afflicting life of the Church herself."
Addressing the Apostolic Nuncio and the Spanish bishops, Cardinal Rouco recalled the last visit of Pope John Paul to Spain, the aftermath of the election of a new government, the issue of government policy on education, the possible recognition of homosexual unions and the law on abortion.
Referring to the terrorist attacks of 3-11, the Cardinal said that "appealing to religious motives as justification for terrorism is especially scandalous and perverse," but at the same time he warned against falling into generalized accusations against Islamic people.
Regarding homosexual unions, Cardinal Rouco said they can never be given the same social status as marriage and the family. "It's not about denying legitimate rights to anybody, but rather about a complete and coherent defense of the rights of the family."