Monday, September 10, 2012

Patriarchal Address centers on the need for compassionate and uncompromising Catholic action

See of St. Stephen 8 September 2012 (ACNS) - The Patriarchal Address on the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary focused on the need for compassionate and uncompromising Catholic action. The Patriarch spoke of the need for compassion towards marginalized people, meaningful and effective health care reform, and appropriate immigration reform. Cardinal Johnson said, "The Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church seeks and promotes peace and the freedom and welfare of all mankind. It is through Christ that all may be truly free. Of particular importance now in history is the state of religious and individual freedom in the United States." Taking the preeminent position in the address was the issue of abortion and respect for life. " It is tragic enough that abortion is currently a form of legal murder, but it is absolutely disastrous that many politicians, activists, and private citizens now promote abortion as a matter of women's health or women's reproductive rights." Read the transcript of the complete address here.