Archbishop denounces "de-christianization" campaigns in Catholic countries

Buenos Aires, Argentina, Oct 19, 2004 / 22:00 pm

In an eloquent message to the faithful of his Archdiocese, Archbishop Domingo Castagna of Corrientes, Argentina, warned that in some traditionally Catholic countries—such as Spain or Mexico—“an open and merciless campaign of de-christianization” exists.

The Archbishop expressed his hope that the same thing will not occur in Argentina, where “the deep Catholic faith of innumerable Argentinean citizens” still prevails, but he warned that “the relativism and lack of faith of just a few people in power” would be enough “for laws and judicial norms to be passed that would go against the beliefs of 80-90% of the population.”

Archbishop Castagna added, “People speak with great eloquence about respect for pluralism but they do not speak in the same way about respect for the faith of the majority.  In the name of non-discrimination the majority is discriminated against and obliged to accept a system that goes against its faith and morals.”

The Archbishop likewise denounced the ideologues who “would strip religious truth all of its rights and give them instead to ideas about man that deny it.”

In this sense, he reminded authorities that “it is their job to preserve unity while being respectful of diversity” and to ensure that “nobody in a properly ordered society feels like a stranger.”

Archbishop Castagna argued that certain legislation that appears to be “progressive” is in reality “a true erosion of constitutionality,” and that the confusion of those ideologues who are currently in power is due to a “lack of knowledge of the nation’s fundamental values.”