Church committed to help poor worldwide –Archbishop Migliore

(Oct.14, 2009): “The need for States worldwide to promote and strengthen the family as a vital element of greater social and economic development,” was made by Vatican’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations in New York on Tuesday. Recalling the 15^th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development – ICPD, held in the Egyptian capital of Cairo in 1994, Archbishop Celestino Migliore told the UN General Assembly commemorating this event, that many were under the impression then, that there would be a population explosion. But this has not been the case, said the prelate, noting that many legislators are now encouraging the increase in birth rates to assure continued economic growth.
The Archbishop also said that the ever increasing presence of women in the job market, has raised new challenges for the family, both in the work sector and at home, and pointed to sexual and economic exploitation, trafficking of women and girls and discriminatory practices in the job market. Archbishop Migliore called on the governments to promote and apply policies to end these injustices and support the family in its proper responsibilities.
Archbishop Migliore told the UN Assembly that the Catholic Church remains committed to providing access to health care for everyone, through its over 5,000 hospitals, 18.000 health clinics and 15.000 homes for the elderly and disabled, as well as other health programs throughout the world.