Bishops of Bilbao: Proposed abortion law changes a ‘step backwards in humanity and civilization’

Bilbao, Spain, Mar 25, 2009 / 20:39 pm

Bishop Ricardo Blazquez of Bilbao and Auxiliary Bishop Carmelo Echenagusia both reacted to a proposed reform of Spain’s abortion law as “a step backwards in humanity and civilization.”  In addition, they said abortion is part of “the culture of death that degrades the society that practices and tolerates it.”

“All human life is an undeserved gift from God to humanity and should be welcomed with love and respect.  From the moment of conception, the passionate adventure of human life begins in the womb of the mother, a new being created in the image and likeness of God, an unrepeatable being called to communion with God and with all men, with an inherent dignity that must be recognized and protected,” the bishops stated.

Both bishops reiterated that “the human person is always a good,” and “the degree of humanization and grandeur of a society, of a culture, of a civilization, is measured mainly by its capacity to welcome and care for all human beings regardless of their qualities, physical capacities, or state of development or usefulness.”

“For this reason, the service and protection of life constitutes one of the main tasks of those who ought to be guarantors and promoters of the common good, particularly, the different social institutions and powers of the State,” the bishops said.