AMERICA/MEXICO - The Day of the Child: “ it is not sufficient to be sad, we must commit ourselves, before God, to transform this reality which is an attempt at the life and the dignity of children ”

Toluca (Agenzia Fides) – “The Day of the Child is rightly celebrated with great enthusiasm in Mexico, it is a celebration to thank God for the gift of children. Jesus, the Son of God, came on earth to share our life, and to do this he became a child. With his conception and his birth he brought joy to the home of the Holy Family of Nazareth”. Bishop Francisco Javier Chavolla Ramos, Bishop of Toluca and head of the Commission for the Family, Youth and Laity of the Mexican Bishops' Conference, said this in a statement issued on the occasion of the Day of the Child, celebrated in Mexico on 30 April. A copy of the statement was sent to Fides News Agency.
“On this day we give thanks to God the Father for all children, since he created them. Indeed when anyone cares for children, for their dignity, their health and their wellbeing, it is He who does it - writes Bishop Chavolla Ramos -. The Lord Jesus, the Son of God, said no one should ever harm a child. This is why today we must shoulder this duty, we must show God's concern and we firmly condemn all abuse of children, at any time in life.”
“It is deplorable to see a child suffer and it is a major injustice towards God - the Bishop writes -. It is not sufficient to be sad, we must commit ourselves, before God, to transform this reality which is an attempt at the life and the dignity of children, their integrity in the family, in the Church and in society.”
Conversion to the Gospel of the Child, the Bishop of Toluca affirms, consists first of all in “transforming hearts to open to the Gospel, to work to transform the family, the Church and society, so that, working together, striving to change attitudes and institutions, we may guarantee assistance to all Mexican children of whom God himself is custodian and keeper”.
The history of the Day for the Child is clear: in 1954 the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution to institute Children’s Day or “World Day of the Child” an annual day on which to promote brotherhood and understanding among children all over the world. The agency responsible for the development of the project was UNICEF. Today more than one hundred different countries mark an annual Children’s Day, on April 30, or some other date. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 03/05/2010)