Pope Benedict XVI Blog

Family, human life, fallen away Catholics priorities of the Pope for Church in Brazil

Pope in Brazil

Sao Paulo, May 12, 2007 / 12:25 pm (CNA).- In an extensive discourse on Thursday to the bishops of Brazil at the Cathedral Da Se in Sao Paulo, Pope Benedict XVI presented a systematic outline of the issues that should be a center of the Church’s pastoral ministry in that country, including the family and fallen away Catholics.

The Holy Father noted that in today’s society, “The sanctity of marriage and the family are attacked with impunity, as concessions are made to forms of pressure which have a harmful effect on legislative processes; crimes against life are justified in the name of individual freedom and rights; attacks are made on the dignity of the human person; the plague of divorce and extra-marital unions is increasingly widespread.”

“Even more: when, within the Church herself, people start to question the value of the priestly commitment as a total entrustment to God through apostolic celibacy and as a total openness to the service of souls, and preference is given to ideological, political and even party issues, the structure of total consecration to God begins to lose its deepest meaning,” the Pope stated.
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posted by Dr. Denice Hanley, DPM, M.Div. @ 9:50 PM