The archbishop of Valencia, Card. Agustin Garcia Gasco, archbishop of Valencia, in his pastoral letter of this week, asked the Catholics to choose "the defence of human rights and the family", on the occasion of next elections. The cardinal, chosen yesterday as president of the Committee for the Doctrine of the Faith during the plenary assembly of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, thinks the defence of religious freedom, of life and the family, and the condemnation of terrorism are fundamental points. As for terrorism, Garcia Gasco stated that "conceding legitimization to terrorists as party in political dialogue offends human rights". With respect to freedom of religion, the cardinal thinks that the legitimate laity of the State "is not an excuse for silencing those who defend their faith", and declares that radical laicism "attacks freedom of religion". The archbishop of Valencia thinks that family and life are currently threatened in Spain, owing to recent laws. Furthermore, in Spain, "participation of families in social life is not promoted, and adequate economic policies are not carried out". "The defence of human rights and the family is a social duty which we must support with all our actions, both in the private sphere and the public sphere".
