Santiago, Chile, Sep 21, 2010 / 15:52 pm
During the celebrations commemorating Chile’s bicentennial, Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz of Santiago called on the faithful to continuing building their country on the foundation of the Gospel, which has been the basis for rejecting the new cultural and ideological colonialism of abortion.
The Chilean bishops, he said, are committed to doing everything in their power to ensure the country continues to value the “treasure it received from its inception, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
He then made reference to the Christian values that have been part of the fabric of the nation from the very moment Spaniards first arrived in Chile, and noted the contributions made by the native peoples and immigrants throughout the centuries.
“In 1520 the first Mass was celebrated at the Straits of Magellan. Soon after missionaries ventured into lands known and unknown with only the courage of Christ in their hearts. The baptisms they administered were precisely what sowed a new relationship, which they passionately defended against many powerful conquistadores,” the cardinal said.