Bishop urges Catholics to strengthen faith during Lent

Buenos Aires, Argentina, Feb 24, 2011 / 01:57 pm MT (CNA).-

Bishop Carlos Franzini of Rafaela, Argentina invited Catholics to seek out Christ during the upcoming Lenten Season.

Lent this year will begin on Wednesday, March 9.

In a Feb. 23 pastoral letter to help Catholics in his diocese prepare for the penitential season, the bishop encouraged them to “seek out a more profound encounter with the Lord to strengthen their faith.”

Our Lenten practices “should be accompanied by a renewed personal and communitarian commitment to further develop the face of solidarity of our Church,” he said.

The bishop then turned to the topic of abortion, noting that the the “so-called right to abortion” must be rejected – even in cases of rape.

“Greater pastoral care must be given to young women who become pregnant against their will,” the bishop wrote.  “While some are interested in demanding the supposed right to abortion, we want to reaffirm the value of human life from the moment of conception.”

“Abortion is always a tragedy, and we want to avoid it by helping young mothers and the children they carry in their wombs,” he added.