Cardinal Rouco urges restraint of government intrusion

Madrid, Spain, Nov 23, 2009 / 20:14 pm

During the Eleventh Congress on Catholics and Public Life, which was held last week in Madrid, the city's Archbishop and President of the Bishops’ Conference of Spain, Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, warned that politicians must not “intrude” in all aspects of society.

In his remarks opening the event, Cardinal Rouco said the major issues facing politicians today are related to fundamental rights, as well as the principle of sovereignty and its relationship to the common good.  Regarding the first point, the cardinal pointed to how the right to life is treated by practically all of the European governments.  In his opinion, this “calls into question” the way in which the right is understood.

Regarding sovereignty, the cardinal wondered whether sovereignty could be set aside from the ethical values of society and still exist.  Finally, he addressed the significance of the common good.  “Much is already gained if it is stated that the common good is the good of almost everyone, and that it has to do with the fundamental goods of the person,” he added.

Cardinal Rouco closed his remarks by reading a telegram from Pope Benedict XVI, who offered his prayers for the event and said he hoped the congress would promote Christian values in society and in politics.