Italian cardinal-designate battles for traditional moral teaching

Published: 2006-03-09

BOLOGNA, Italy (CNS) -- For more than 30 years, Cardinal-designate Carlo Caffarra of Bologna has been on the front line of the cultural battle over traditional moral teaching. A trusted lieutenant of Pope John Paul II in defending the dignity of marriage and the family, Cardinal-designate Caffarra is known for strongly reasserting Catholic teaching on marriage, contraception, abortion and homosexuality and for meticulously outlining the logic behind his beliefs. Pope Benedict XVI announced Feb. 22 that he would induct the 67-year-old Italian into the College of Cardinals March 24. Cardinal-designate Caffarra was the founding president of the Pope John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family in Rome in 1981. He presided over the opening of the Washington affiliate of the institute seven years later.

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