Related articles:Santiago, Chile, Sep 21, 2010 / 05:52 pm (CNA).- During the celebrations commemorating Chiles bicentennial, Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz of Santiago called on the faithful to continuing building their country on the foundation of the Gospel, which has been the basis for rejecting the new cultural and ideological colonialism of abortion.
The Chilean bishops, he said, are committed to doing everything in their power to ensure the country continues to value the treasure it received from its inception, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
He then made reference to the Christian values that have been part of the fabric of the nation from the very moment Spaniards first arrived in Chile, and noted the contributions made by the native peoples and immigrants throughout the centuries.
In 1520 the first Mass was celebrated at the Straits of Magellan. Soon after missionaries ventured into lands known and unknown with only the courage of Christ in their hearts. The baptisms they administered were precisely what sowed a new relationship, which they passionately defended against many powerful conquistadores, the cardinal said.
He also thanked God that Chile has opposed the new cultural and ideological colonialism by defending the life of the unborn.
Were there to be no support in the whole history of ethical and moral thought, were there no acknowledged confirmation from medical science, were the history of legal opinion to the contrary, we would still have to conclude on the basis of God's Holy Word that the unborn child is a person in the sight of God. He is protected by the sanctity of life graciously given to each individual by the Creator, Who alone places His image upon man and grants them any right to life which they have.