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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, NOVEMBER 26, 1982
PAGE 6
The Spanish Socialist party has proposed the legalization of abortion.
Their forerunners, the center coalition, pushed through Spain's first
divorce law only last year.
While being very careful not to denounce Spain's youthful experiment with
democratic pluralism, the pope, nevertheless, lashed out stronger than he
ever had before against destructive social trends. He decried Spain's rush
into rampant consumerism. His denunciation of contemporary views on sex
and marriage was his most vehement yet. Regarding divorce he said, "It is
not 1icit for man to separate what God has united."
On the issue of
abortion, he said, "the murder of an innocent never can be legitimized."
(It is obvious just looking at Madrid's newsstands how much the country has
changed since 1975. Generalissimo Franco would never have permitted such
an open display of so-called "men's magazines.")
The Astonishing but Little-reported Finale
The first nine days of the pope's Spanish sojourn were devoted to issues
involving Spain's "backsliding" Catholics.
The theme of the tenth and
final day, however, expanded to cover a much greater theme: the spiritual
unity of all Europe.
At the city of Santiago de Compostela, the pope issued an impassioned
appeal for all Europeans, both East and West, to rediscover "..•your
origins. Give life to your roots." Of course he was speaking of Europe's
Catholic heritage. Here is the way Henry Kamm of the NEW YORK TIMES des
cribed the activities of this final day of the pope's Spanish tour in his
column in the November 10th INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE:
At the final destination of his 10-day pilgrimage to Spain ••• the
pope celebrated what he called a "European act," in which he
spoke as much as a Pole as he did as head of the Roman Catholic
Church.
He said: "I, John Paul, a son of the Polish nation that has always
considered itself European, by its origins, traditions, culture
and vital relations; Slav among Latins and Latin among the Slavs;
I, successor to Peter in the See of Rome, a See that Christ wished
to situate in Europe and which he loves for its striving for the
spreading of Christianity throughout the world; I, bishop of Rome
and pastor of the universal church, from Santiago issue to you,
old Europe, a cry full of love: Find yourself.
Be yourself.
Discover your origins. Give life to your roots."
The pope spoke in the presence of King Juan Carlos and represent
atives of European organizations and universities especially in
vited for the "act" that was clearly intended as the high point
of the papal tour. Shortly afterward the pope boarded his plane
for the return to Rome.
His speech made no reference to the United States, except pos
sibly by inference among the countries he said had been
"enhanced" by European expansion, and left in doubt whether the
Soviet Union formed part of Europe in his world view. The great
nations and civilizations of other continents were not mentioned,
nor were the contributions of non-Christian faiths. The Europe