THE DIOCESE OF LIMBURG AND CRISIS PREGNANCY CASES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 23, 2001 (VIS) - Bishop Franz Kamphaus of Limburg, Germany, released a declaration yesterday concerning the January 13 meeting held in the Vatican with "the aim of clarifying the situation created because of the continuing presence of the diocese of Limburg in state consultation centers for crisis pregnancy cases."

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Archbishop Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, and Bishop Reinhard Lettmann of Munster, Germany, participated in the meeting.

In the declaration, the bishop of Limburg emphasized that "the importance of the unequivocal testimony of the Church in support of life is undeniable.

"In 'crisis counselling' (for pregnant women), the diocese of Limburg, in accord with the petition of the Pope, seeks to further strengthen the presence of the Church in consultations."

Bishop Kamphaus asserted moreover that "the quality of consultation and the assistance in support of life must be realized in such a convincing manner that women decide against receiving the certificate of counselling," which according to law, constitutes the condition necessary for a legal abortion.

"It is expressly a question of taking part in consultations where the human life is placed in the greatest danger, that is, where women are uncertain of whether or not to give birth to their child."

The bishop of Limburg added that the experiences of the German dioceses with the new consultation procedure, implemented particularly since January 1 of this year, "must be kept in mind," and the results evaluated at the end of the year and taken account of in subsequent decisions. Achieving the objective of "reaching the women concerned, independent of governmental consultation for crisis pregnancy cases," will be studied.

"Together with all the German dioceses," the declaration concludes, "the diocese of Limburg feels bound to the Pope's mandate to continue with perseverance to develop consultations which support an unequivocal and credible witness for life."

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