Citing the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, a leading Vatican diplomat said that “the first right of the child is ‘to be born in a real family,’ a right that has not always been respected and that today is subject to new violations because of developments in genetic technology.”
Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis, apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, made his remarks on October 6 during a UN General Assembly discussion of the rights of children.
“The family is the foundation and most important safeguard for children’s rights,” said Archbishop El-Kassis. “It is a child’s first community and is responsible for the child’s wellbeing. Mothers and fathers are their children’s first teachers, protectors, and advocates, helping them to become aware of their God-given dignity.”
The prelate concluded:
Some serious problems remain unsolved: trafficking in children, child labor, “street children,” child marriage, exploitation, violence and the use of children in pornography and modern communication. These violations of the God-given dignity of boys and girls must be effectively fought with adequate preventive and penal measures.