The Bishops of Argentina have urged the country to hold together behind shared values amid rising social tensions.In an Advent message the bishops called for the country to unite behind a shared belief in traditional marriage and "the dignity of life from conception to natural death".
Since Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner became president in 2007, same-sex marriage has been legalised and abortion is close to being decriminalised in Buenos Aires.
The bishops also stated their "profound concern" over the numbers of young people not in education or employment, the growth of drug-trafficking, unsafe streets and the school education system.
Demonstrations against sluggish growth rates and soaring inflation led to a general strike last month, while there have also been protests against crime levels.