Higüey.- The bishop of the Diocese of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia in higueyMonsignor Jesús Castro Marte, advocated this Saturday for the approval of the new Penal Code within the framework of the extraordinary legislature, but maintaining respect for life from conception as established by the Constitution of the Republic.
“We have what is called a Magna Carta and to approve abortion in the Dominican Republic is to get into a problematic contradiction with the Constitution of the Republic,” said Monsignor Jesús Castro in his speech when officiating the solemn mass for the Day of the Virgin of La Altagracia.
Opportunities for youth
On the other hand, during his speech at the Eucharist led by the President of the Republic Luis Abinader, the bishop highlighted the efforts of the State in the economic recovery of the country after the pandemic and the various natural phenomena that have hit the nation, however, he implored that the advances be transformed into greater opportunities for Dominican youth.
“The country has grown a lot economically, but many young people feel alone and their manifestations of anger that we see every day in many of them is nothing more than the effect of abandonment in which they find themselves.”
Violence against Women
In another order, Monsignor Jesús Castro also highlighted the female leadership that has evolved in recent years, however, he expressed that much remains to be done to eradicate violence against women.
«The church will defend the family, the marriage between a woman and a man, it will defend women from all abuse and violence, rejecting the ideologies that subject them to consumption or distort their true feminine identity according to the divine plan of creation» the bishop said.
He advocated for the collaboration and unity of all political parties, businessmen, professionals, civil society and all the Dominican people in favor of social development and democracy.
Road infrastructure development
In the same way, he highlighted that in the country there is an important development in road infrastructure and said that tourism in this region is progressing in an extraordinary way, while he appreciated that in the midst of the pandemic the businessmen of this sector always thought of being human.
In his Eucharistic message, he defined Mary as a model of believers, who rejoices in God because in him comes to fulfill the hope of those who receive no protection from anyone.
Military honors to President Abinader
Upon his arrival at the religious ceremony, at 9:45 in the morning, the Head of State received military style honors with a 21-gun salute and the intonation of the National Anthem, by the Honor Battalion of the Presidential Guard .
At the beginning of the solemn Eucharist, Monsignor Castro Marte expressed his gratitude for the presence of President Luis Abinader and likewise greeted the attendance of First Lady Raquel Arbaje and Vice President Raquel Peña, as well as civil and military authorities who They made an appointment at the house of the Virgin of La Altagracia.
At the end of the mass, President Abinader, together with the first lady and the vice president, went up to the altar where the image of the Virgin of Altagracia is placed and then went to the sacristy.
Along with President Abinader were the provincial governor, Martina Pepén; the ministers of the Presidency, Joel Santos and of Public Works, Deligne Ascención; the mayor of Higüey, Rafael Barón Duluc Rijo (Cholitín); the general directors of Customs, Eduardo Sanz Lovatón and of the National Police, Major General Eduardo Alberto Then.
Parishioners who make pilgrimages to venerate the spiritual mother and protector of the Dominican people, in the Basilica Cathedral Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia, also participated in the mass offered by families from all over the country.
