Bishop Carlos Aguiar Retes, president of the bishops' conference of
Mexico, spoke of the necessity for the Church to be guaranteed religious
freedom.
His remarks came at the opening of the 100th plenary assembly
of the bishops' conference, and in the presence of President of Mexico
Felipe Calderon.
The bishop added that the Church is not asking for a special
privilege, but rather for a legal framework allowing her to carry on her
mission.
“The greatest threat to culture is the reduction of reality to
material goods – to social, economic and political problems – cutting
off the foundational … reality which is God,” the bishop said. “In
order to prevent and overcome this threat, it is essential that the
fundamental human right of religious freedom be guaranteed,” he stated.
“Authentic democracy, which we desire and aspire to here in Mexico,
is that which guarantees fundamental human rights for all its citizens,”
he continued.
“The Church does not seek out nor ask for privileges.
She does ask for a democratic legal framework in order to carry out
sincere and positive collaboration in overcoming our social problems,”
the bishop said.
Directly addressing President Calderon, Bishop Aguiar said, “The
Church which you belong to” is an institution allied with the government
“in the responsibility of forging a society that practices and respects
fundamental human rights.”
SIC: CNA/INT'L