MADRID, Spain, August 11, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The organizers of a major pro-life festival at World Youth Day say that they are “delighted” to confirm that renowned pro-life leader, Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, Australia will address the gathering in Madrid next week.
“Cardinal Pell is a world renowned pro-life leader, who has long been an uncompromising voice for the protection of human life, and we’re delighted that he will address this important international gathering in Madrid, along with pro-life investigative journalist, Lila Rose, and other great speakers,” said Íde Nic Mhathúna, spokeswoman for the Irish pro-life group, Youth Defence.
The Viva la Vida! Festival, which takes place Aug 17 at the Circulo della Bellas Artes, is expected to attract hundreds of young pro-life activists and leaders who will hear from leading pro-life advocates, listen to some of the best music bands, and learn moves for a pro-life ‘flash mob’ which will take place in Madrid’s city centre. Featured bands include Scythian, Ooberfuse, Elation Ministries, and L’Angelus.
The festival, says Youth Defence, aims to build on the growing synergy and strength of youth-led pro-life groups who are gaining new ground across Europe and the rest of the world. It will give a platform to more than a dozen such pro-life groups from Spain, Australia, Germany, Poland, Belgium, Ireland, the US and other countries, and promises to be an exciting and positive celebration of Life aiming to encourage pro-life activism.
Cardinal Pell has established Life Offices in Sydney and Melbourne and has warned of moral relativism in “matters of sexuality and questions of life and death,” pointing out that there are fundamental moral truths that anyone can discover through the use of reason, “truths which are embodied in the natural law and confirmed by Christ himself and the Ten Commandments.” One such truth, Cardinal Pell says, is that “You shall not kill. You shall not destroy innocent human life. Every human being has a right to life.”
“World Youth Day is a massive event in the Catholic calendar,” said Ms Nic Mhathúna, “We’re hosting this conference and giving a platform to pro-life groups from right around the world because we want to emphasize the words of Pope Benedict who said that ‘It is necessary that the whole of society defend the right to life’. He was calling on everyone to get involved, and that’s what the Festival does: we’ll celebrate Life and then go forward and ask others to join us in defending life.”
The Youth Defence spokeswoman said that as well as the planned flash mob, the conference aimed to reach thousands of young Catholics attending World Youth Day with special ‘call to action’ cards featuring Pope Benedict’s words and giving web addresses of pro-life groups across the world.
“But we’re also here to build and plan and share ideas, ” said Ms Nic Mhathúna. “Abortion is the human rights issue of our generation and we need to be informed, inspired and motivated to defend life.”
The Festival is one of a series of the Viva la Vida events organised by Youth Defence in recent years which have attracted young pro-life leaders and activists and contributed to a significant rise in pro-life activism right across Europe.
For more information, visit Youth Defence’s website here.