The observations made in the report by the UN
Committee on the Rights of the Child “seem to go beyond its powers and
to interfere in the very moral and doctrinal positions of the Catholic
Church, giving indications involving moral evaluations of contraception,
or abortion, or education in families, or the vision of human
sexuality, in light of [the Committee’s] own ideological vision of
sexuality itself,” said the director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr.
Federico Lombardi, in a statement published by Vatican Radio.
The report contains “serious limits”, Fr. Lombardi
observed. “In particular, the [Observations’] lack of understanding of
the specific nature of the Holy See seem serious.” “One is entitled to amazement,” he explained.
“The way in which the objections [contained in the
Concluding Observations] were presented, as well as the insistence on
diverse particular cases, seem to suggest that a much greater attention
was given to certain NGOs, the prejudices of which against the Catholic
Church and the Holy See are well known, rather than to the positions of
the Holy See itself,” Francis continued.
It is not appropriate to speak of confrontation
“between the UN and the Vatican” the Vatican spokesman claimed.” The
United Nations is a reality that is very important to humanity today.
the United Nations, at the highest levels, appreciate and desire the
support of the Holy See and positive dialogue with it. So does the Holy
See.”
“Finally, one cannot but observe that the tone,
development, and the publicity given by the Committee in its document
are absolutely anomalous when compared to its normal progress in
relations with other States that are party to the Convention,” the
statement goes on to say.
“In sum: if the Holy See was certainly the subject
of an initiative and a media attention in our view unfairly harmful,
one needs to recognize that, in turn, the Committee has itself attracted
much serious and well-founded criticism. Without desiring to place
[responsibility for] what has transpired “[on] the United Nations”, it
must be said that the UN carries the brunt of the negative consequences
in public opinion, for the actions of a Committee that calls itself [by
the UN name].”
“Let us try to find the correct plan of
commitment for the good of the children – even through the instrument of
the Convention. The Holy See will not allow its careful and reasoned
responses to be lacking,” Fr. Lombardi ended his statement by saying.