Cardinal Bertone chides Spanish government on dignity-of-life issues

February 06, 2009

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone-- whose visit to Spain this week has been hailed by the country's Socialist government as the beginning of a "more constructive" relationship with the Catholic Church-- has chided that government for its policies on issues related to the dignity of human life. In a major address February 5, the Vatican Secretary of State insisted that respect for life must stretch from conception to natural death, thereby implicitly criticizing the government's support for legal abortion and euthanasia; the cardinal also spoke out against the legal recognition of same-sex marriage. The Spanish government led by Prime Minister José Zapatero has frequently clashed with the country's Catholic hierarchy on the same issues.

 

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Further information:

• Pope's right-hand man stresses Catholic values in "secular" Spain (Europe News)