Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Bishops speak out against drugs in society


14 January 2009, 7:54 AM

SANTO DOMINGO.-The Dominican Conference of Bishops called on all Christians to evangelize public and private environments where "brazen" activities related to drug trafficking, corruption, tax evasion and the illegal trafficking of persons are taking place.

In their pastoral letter "Paul, the model of a missionary disciple" that will be read next 21 January during the festivity of the Virgin of High Grace, the bishops indicated that businessmen, government officials, members of the institutions charged with public order and the judicial system were part of these environments.

"In many of these places, the sins of the flesh are brazenly exhibited: drug trafficking and corruption; tax evasion and administrative corruption and indifference; the illegal white slave trade and prostitution; the wild sex and abortions, marital infidelity, intra-family violence, pre-matrimonial sex, alcohol, drugs, pornography, crime, child abuse among others."

The conference, headed by Nicholas de Jesus Cardinal Lopez Rodriguez, also attacked religious groups and sects that, in their judgment, create confusion in the population.

"The proliferation of groups and sects that abound in our environments is a fact. They present themselves in the media, creating a state of religious confusion, promising an easy salvation that creates expectations among poorly formed persons that are swept up, separating themselves from the Church and the Sacraments," according to the letter.

In their conclusions, the Catholic pastors point out their worries for the "latest events that have produced scandals in God's people", but that said that on these and other issues, "we will talk as the time comes."



De Diario Libre

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