Pope Praises Defenders of Life in Portugal

By Liz Townsend

Speaking to Catholic social service groups May 13 during a visit to Portugal, Pope Benedict XVI praised them for defending life in a country which legalized abortion on demand in 2007. Over 90% of the people in Portugal are nominally Catholic.

Pope Benedict XVI

The pope told the social workers and health care providers of his "deep appreciation for all those social and pastoral initiatives aimed at combating the socioeconomic and cultural mechanisms which lead to abortion, and are openly concerned to defend life and to promote the reconciliation and healing of those harmed by the tragedy of abortion."

The pope made the remarks after a Mass celebrated before a crowd of 400,000 at the shrine of Fatima.

Pope Benedict also urged the pro-lifers to find ways to do their work without relying on money from the government, which could require them to sacrifice their principles to conform to anti-life regulations.

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