The plenary assembly of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference opened in Madrid on 27 March. Until 31 March the bishops will resume their reflection on the new Law on techniques for assisted reproduction, already the object of a Statement put out by permanent Council of the episcopate on 9 February, under the title “In response to the legal authorization of the cloning of human beings and the protection denied to human life in the womb”. The Message for the World Meeting of Families, due to be held in Valencia on 1-9 July, with the participation (still to be confirmed) of Benedict XVI, will also be submitted to the bishops for their approval. Other documents to be submitted to the attention of the plenary will be the new “Pastoral Plan” of the Spanish Church and the draft of the first catechism for children with the title “Jesus is the Lord”.
