Cardinal Rivera thanks Pope for “paternal concern” over anti-life threat

Mexico City, Mexico, Apr 24, 2007 / 08:57 am

The Archbishop of Mexico City, Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, has sent a letter of thanks to Pope Benedict XVI for his “paternal concern” over a new law that will legalize abortion in the Mexican capital and the passage of which is “imminent.”

The letter was read during a press conference by Auxiliary Bishop Marcelino Hernandez after Mass on Sunday at the archdiocesan cathedral.  “Thank you for uniting the Church of Mexico and so many people of good will,” the letter began.

The Cardinal said the new law sponsored by the Democratic Revolution Party (known as PRD in Mexico) in the Legislative Assembly of Mexico City “is a very grave threat to the innocent and defenseless life of the unborn.”

Mexico is “a Christian nation that values the family, and we promise you we will work ardently and with hope to implant the civilization of love in our country,” Cardinal Rivera wrote in his letter. “Holy Mary of Guadalupe, our Mother, will help us,” he said.

The Cardinal’s letter came in response to a message from Benedict XVI last week sent to the president of the Bishops’ Conference of Mexico, Bishop Carlos Aguiar Retes, through the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

In his letter, the Pontiff recalled that “in this Easter Season, with the resurrection of Christ we are celebrating the triumph of life over death.  This great gift drives us to firmly protect and defend the right to life of every human being from the first moment of conception, in the face of any manifestation of the culture of death.”