Justice and Peace Council recognizes defenders of dignity

(September 18, 2009) A prize created last year by the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace has been awarded to the grand duke of Luxembourg and four foundations in Italy, Colombia, Thailand and France.. The St. Matthew Foundation of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace held an award ceremony in Rome on Wednesday during which the recipients were honoured with the Van Thuân awards. The prizes are named after Vietnamese cardinal, Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuân, and recognize persons or organizations dedicated to the defence of life, as well as encouraging those who dedicate their lives to humanitarian projects of great social value. Duke Henri I of Luxembourg who together with his wife runs a foundation for humanitarian assistance was honoured for "his commitment and work in defence of human rights, the right to life and religious liberty." He was particularly commended for his courage in opposing a euthanasia law passed last year by Luxembourg's Parliament. The Van Thuân Solidarity and Development Prizes, went to the Comis Foundation of Italy, the WINGS project of Colombia, the "Skills Development Center for the Blind," of Thailand and the Le Rocher Association of France.