Pope encourages chastity, fidelity to Brazilian youths

The Pope Benedict XVI has sent across a stern anti–abortion message during his five–day visit to Brazil, the most populous Catholic country in the world, in what is seen as an attempt to prevent the faithful masses from deserting to evangelical churches and curtail threats from the supposedly subversive liberation theology.

Pope's strong stance against abortion comes in the wake of the controversy raised recently in Mexico when its parliament voted to legalize abortion. The Catholic MPs in Mexico City who voted for legalization were subsequently considered "excommunicated" – a move taken by the Vatican which raised many eyebrows. "The excommunication was not something arbitrary. It is part of the [canon law] code. It is based simply on the principle that the killing of an innocent human child is incompatible with going in Communion with the body of Christ. Thus, they [the bishops] did not do anything new or surprising, or arbitrary," the Pope had reasoned.

However, the Rev. John Coughlin, a law professor at the University of Notre Dame, had flatly contradicted the Pope, saying there was no provision in canon law which stated that Catholic politicians who voted to legalize abortion automatically excommunicated themselves.

This confrontation came to the open that subsequently compelled the Pope's spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, to make an official announcement that the Pope was not making new policy in his remarks, and that formal excommunication of offending politicians – a complicated and rare procedure distinct from the doctrine of "self–excommunication" – was not on the cards.

However, he endorsed the main drift of the Pope's words. "Legislative action in favour of abortion is incompatible with participation in the Eucharist," he said. Politicians who vote that way, he went on, "exclude themselves from Communion."

Nonetheless, the controversy over abortion refused to die and in São Paolo, Brazil, the pontiff found himself in another.

Abortion is illegal in Brazil, but the Health Minister, Dr. José Gomes Temporão, had called for a referendum on the issue in March – precipitating a protest march in Brasilia on Tuesday, May 8.

Dr. Temporão said that abortion was "a theme that should be treated delicately" warning that "some sectors of the church have made declarations that are very aggressive and quite distant from the teachings of Jesus."

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, while personally opposed to abortion, had however, mentioned that "the state cannot abdicate from caring for this as a public health question, because to do so would lead to the deaths of many young women in this country."

Nonetheless, this did not stop the Pope from taking up his favorite "pro–life" theme during his five–day visit to the South American state and he said that the Catholic Church, "will not fail to insist on the need to take action to ensure that the family, the basic cell of society, is strengthened."

The Pope, on one occasion, speaking in front of thousands of women and youth in Pacaembu soccer stadium in Sao Paulo, May 10, insisted on the need to promote "respect for human life from the moment of conception until natural death as an integral requirement of human nature," thereby irking Dr. Temporão who abruptly cancelled a planned meeting with him. "You cannot prescribe dogmas and precepts from one particular religion for the whole of society," Dr. Temporão had declared angrily. "This is a fundamental matter. In Brazil, the state and the church have been separate for centuries."

But this still not deter the Pope from voicing his opinion on the importance of marriage and fidelity between spouses and chastity before it. "I am well aware that the soul of this people, as of all Latin America, safeguards values that are radically Christian," he said, not specifically referring to abortion. "This identity will be reinforced through the promotion of respect for life from the moment of conception until natural death as an integral requirement of human nature."

Gazing lovingly at 30,000 or more young Brazilians, whom he called "the future of the church and of humanity," the Pope said, "My appeal to you today, young people present at this gathering, is this: do not waste your youth...Live it intensely. Consecrate it to the high ideals of faith and human solidarity."

He also issued warnings against drug use, violence and corruption, and urged the faithful flock to remain strong in the fight against the temptations of wealth and power.

The crowd were particularly receptive when the Pope mentioned his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, who visited Brazil on three occasions. The stadium erupted with applause and cheering, many shouting "I love you," as Pope Benedict spoke of the former pope.

Pope Benedict met Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday, May 10. The Vatican's spokesman told reporters that they did not discuss abortion as many had previously expected.

The discussion between the Church head and the Brazilian premier primarily focused on poverty, family issues, moral education for young people, protecting the environment and changes in international trade, with President Silva saying that Brazil desperately wanted to help Africa develop biofuels in the struggle to ease poverty.

Brazil is the world leader in developing ethanol from sugarcane and the only major exporter of the alternative fuel.

The Pope has also met other religious leaders, including local Jewish and Islamic communities, but is yet to meet any representatives from the evangelical Protestant churches, which have attracted millions of Catholic believers in the past decade.

The Vatican said that it has no official relations with those churches.