tide a'turning?

In protestant circles the person of the pope is cause for dark looks and tin foil theories about his office. I'm sure if Western protestants were more familiar with the patriarchates they'd extend that disdain. Here is an example of the importance of a firm moral authority figure. Several blogs see a turn-around (the renewal they've been waiting for) and I hope that they're right.

Madrid, Dec. 31, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Nearly 2 million Spaniards gathered in Madrid's Plaza de Colon on Sunday, December 30, for a massive demonstration in support of marriage and family life.

The huge demonstration, organized by pro-family groups with strong support from the Catholic hierarchy, was designed to send a positive message of support for family life. But the demonstration was a clear implicit criticism of policies undertaken by the country's Socialist government, including the legal recognition of same-sex marriage and the relaxation of restrictions on abortion.

Pope Benedict XVI drew hearty applause from the enormous crowd when he addressed the group by a video link from the Vatican, where he was holding his regular Sunday audience in St. Peter's Square. See today's separate CWN headline story.

Speaking in Spanish, the Holy Father said that the family, based on "an indissoluble union between a man and a woman, is the privileged place in which human life is welcomed and protected." He added that parents have "the right and fundamental obligation" to educate their children, particularly on matters of morality.

Speaking on behalf of the Spanish hierarchy, Bishop Ricardo Blazquez Perez of Bilbao, the president of the bishops' conference, echoed the Pope's words, saying that the family based upon marriage is "founded upon human nature." Bishop Blazquez remarked, in a barb clearly aimed at the government's recognition of same-sex unions, that the nature of marriage does not change with political circumstances or from one generation to another.

The rally in Spain was organized for Sunday, December 30, to coincide with the celebration of the feast of the Holy Family on the Catholic liturgical calendar.