There is "sensational divergence between the fundamental and irreplaceable sense" that marriage makes "for people and society" and on the other hand "the way it is treated by society and the State": it was stated today by mgr. Ricardo Blázquez, bishop of Bilbao and president of the Spanish Bishops Conference, in his first speech to opens the "weblog" which will be working from today to July 14th on the occasion of the V World Family Meeting of Valencia. In this blog or "journal", the Spanish bishops taking part in the meeting will give a live report of their feelings and opinions to speak with the web surfers who will attend the event from home while waiting for Benedict XVI’s apostolic visit of July 8th and 9th. It is not the first time the Spanish Bishops Conference is involved in this type of events: the first weblog was developed last year at the WYD of Cologne (August 2005). In his welcome address, mgr. Blázquez said that "love in marriage and in family is a fact, faithfulness is possible, and with the support of God those who have joined their lives in the sacrament of marriage can grow old together. Persevering in love does not mean a lack of problems but it means defeating the centrifugal forces of life". In this respect, the bishops insist once again that "marriage as an institution and an asset of humanity is not comparable with any other form of union". For the meeting, the Spanish Bishops Conference set up a booth at the Fair of the Families and will organise five presentations of books about life and family.
