Sao Paulo, Brazil, Feb 12, 2008 / 15:41 pm
During the International Congress in Defense of Life in Aparecida, Brazil, the Archbishop of Sao Paulo, Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer, said Catholics must “communicate the reasons” why they defend life so that the world understands the importance of doing so.
The cardinal noted that the Brazilian bishops’ traditional Lenten campaign this year has as its theme the defense of life.
He emphasized that the Church is on the side of life and therefore must proclaim this message. “It’s not enough to say ‘thou shalt not kill.’ We must communicate the reasons for which we have this position, so that it will be firmly approved by the State,” he said.
Cardinal Scherer reiterated that the Church will never support killing and that human life is the first and foremost right. The State, he stressed, cannot do away with some lives for the benefit of others.
He called on participants at the Congress to spread its message to all places in society. “The issue of the defense of life is not a question of religion, but rather of ethics, dignity, human rights and civilization,” the cardinal said.