Papal envoy urges governments to favor families

Papal Legate Alfonso Cardinal Trujillo, Pope John Paul II’s envoy to the 4th World Meeting of Families, called on governments worldwide yesterday to "favor families" and not to obstruct the "mission and rights" of spouses.

"There is no better investment for the government, for legislators, than to favor the families, strengthen their unity, support them, not to obstruct the mission and rights of spouses. Parliaments that approve unjust and harmful laws violate the rights of families, their right to respect life, and their right to a wholesome education for their children," said Trujillo, in his homily during the final eucharistic celebration held at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park.

He said that it is a grave irresponsibility against human integrity and existence for politicians and legislators to give in to the "culture of death," and "for doctors to become accomplices in assaults against the human person" instead of truly working to cure diseases and alleviate pain.

"How lucky and happy are those nations that pass laws in favor of family and life, and thus exalt the dignity and nobility of the political vocation," the papal legate said.

Trujillo urged families worldwide to defend their children, citing the example set by Saint Joseph and Mother Mary when they protected the infant Jesus from the "massacre of the innocent."

He added that families should "reject with all your might" those who treat children as objects and those who execute children through capital punishment.

The papal legate also urged families to reject those who see a child as an intruder, a burden, a threat to development and those who think that abortion is a right.

"Can it ever be a right to kill the fruit of the womb?" he asked.

Trujillo noted that whoever destroys an innocent life destroys the family and ruins his or her life through an irresponsible act of violence.

"Protect your children and surround them with tenderness. Poverty – against which we have to fight courageously in the midst of widespread injustice in this world – becomes a bitter tragedy when children are abandoned, or become victims and made to pay for the irresponsibility of parents who have promised to love one another until death," he said.

The Cardinal also urged families to be evangelizers, proclaiming to the world the mercy of God, the permanent miracle of his love in a marriage, in the community and in the family.

The 7 a.m. Mass was attended by around 700,000 people, according to Col. Elmer Jamias, Western Police District Station 2 commander.