The urgent social needs that the country presents, in particular, «the serious food situation, the growing demand for drugs by young people and the serious situation of prisons» were the subject of the first official meeting of the Executive Commission of the Argentine Episcopal Conference (CEA) with the new President of the Republic, Alberto Fernández, at Casa Rosada, on December 18th.
The meeting took place on the second working day of the meeting of the Standing Committee of the CEA. Mgr. Oscar Vicente Ojea, Bishop of San Isidro and President of CEA took part in it; Cardinal Mario Aurelio Poli, Archbishop of Buenos Aires and first Vice-president; Mgr. Marcelo Daniel Colombo, Archbishop of Mendoza and second Vice-president; Mgr. Carlos Humberto Malfa, general secretary.
Together with the President, the Secretary for Strategic Affairs of the Presidency, Gustavo Beliz; Felipe Solá, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship; Guillermo Olivieri, Secretary of Worship were also present.
The Bishops, according to Fides News Agency, reiterated to the President the commitment to deal mainly with the most fragile people in the social fabric.
Finally, in delivering the message prepared by the 183rd meeting of the Permanent Commission of the Bishops, the Bishops expressed «their surprise and at the same time the concern for the protocol presented by the Ministry of Health, which in practice authorizes free abortion» and affirmed that «the Church has always defended and will defend all life from conception, in a decisive and clear way. «The Bishops expressed their satisfaction, ensuring the prayer for the rulers and for all the Argentine people in this delicate moment.
On the first day of the works, on December 17th, the Permanent Commission of the Bishops dealt with the drafting of the Argentine Catechism, the distribution of the clergy in the country, in order to collaborate with the dioceses where there are no priests, and the reports presented by the Episcopal Commission for Social Pastoral Care.
