Children cannot be denied the right to a father and a mother, argues Mexican cardinal

Mexico City, Mexico, Feb 17, 2010 / 17:01 pm

In his Sunday homily, Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera recalled Mexico City's recent legalization of same-sex marriage and spoke on the importance of children being raised by both a mother and a father.

Speaking to the congregation, the cardinal recalled that Pope Benedict XVI has emphasized that children need to have a father and a mother.

“Unfortunately,” the cardinal said, “thousands of children in the world cannot have both a father and a mother. However, the greatest assistance children can be given is precisely that of a family founded upon the marriage between a man and a woman.”

“Thousands of children are not able to enjoy this right, and to deny them of it through the law is an aberration, it is foolishness. These aren’t my words, they are the Pope’s,” the cardinal explained.

Cardinal Rivera also said the Holy Father supports the Church in Mexico and rejects the law allowing homosexuals to marry and adopt children.  “He is very aware of the situation we are facing.”

At the conclusion of his homily, Cardinal Rivera said, “The Church firmly believes that human life, even when weak or suffering, is a splendid gift from God.  And against the pessimism and selfishness that blinds the world, the Church says ‘yes’ to life, thus defending man and the world from all that threatens to diminish it.”