Spain: Church holds Mass supporting family values

[Dale_M]

Tens of thousands of people celebrated a Mass honoring the family as a building block of Christianity in downtown Madrid on Sunday.

The outdoor service under bright blue skies in Colon square was conducted by Archbishop Antonio Rouco Varela on Sunday with the backing of the conservative opposition Popular Party.

The Roman Catholic Church has in recent years balked at Spain’s rapid transition from a once-staunchly Catholic nation to one of Europe’s most liberal.

news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110102/ap_on_re_eu/eu_spain_family_mass;_ylt=ApDx.cvwWmxOspQogVD0Upc7Xs8F;_ylu=X3oDMTJxczRwamwxBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTEwMTAyL2V1X3NwYWluX2ZhbWlseV9tYXNzBHBvcwM1BHNlYwN5bl9wYWdpbmF0ZV9zdW1tYXJ5X2xpc3QEc2xrA3NwYWluY2h1cmNoaA–

The gathering attracted clergy and worshipers from across Europe. A live video link to the Vatican allowed Pope Benedict to convey his blessing.