The preacher also considered that the right to life “means having the opportunity to live our own life; “If there is no life, it makes no sense for other fundamental rights to exist.”
“The right to life means having a horror of the homicide of the baby in the mother’s womb and also abolishing the death penalty in any corner of the world.” This is how the biologist and professor of Zoology Luis Herrera expressed himself in the proclamation of the Lustral Festivals of La Gomera. “We must help every woman in a compromised situation with solutions so that she can carry her pregnancy to term,” he said in an anti-abortion plea.
“First of all, Virgin of Guadalupe, as a biologist I ask you for a joyous affirmation for the right to life, from conception in the womb of a woman to natural death,” Herrera said, before pointing out that “the right to life is a universal and inalienable right that corresponds to every human being.” And he added: “It is a necessary right to realize all other universal rights.”
The preacher also considered that the right to life “means having the opportunity to live our own life; “If there is no life, it makes no sense for other fundamental rights to exist.” And he continued along the same lines: «For this reason, as Pope Francis said last August in Lisbon, at WYD: ‘In the name of progress, the path has been opened to a great regression against life. You are the generation that can overcome this challenge. “They have the most advanced scientific and technological instruments, but please do not fall into the trap of partial visions.”
Herrera is a biologist and professor of Zoology and received the Humbolt Research Prize in 1990, as well as the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. He is also the Favorite Son of La Gomera and author of numerous books and scientific articles. “An illustrious resident of San Sebastián de La Gomera who has always felt part of this town and this Island”, as described by the mayoress of San Sebastián de La Gomera, Angélica Padilla, who recalled that “this same year he received the Medal of Gold of the Canary Islands in recognition of his career.
According to the press release sent by the Gomera capital city council, the feeling of belonging was reflected in his speech, “with a proclamation impregnated with the enormous devotion he feels towards the Virgin of Guadalupe, full of poetry and reminiscences of the past.” Herrera assured that becoming the preacher of these Lustral Festivals “has been an indescribable pride,” and noted that “after a lifetime, with hundreds of courseslessons, congresses, meetings and conferences given by different countries, I can tell you that I have never felt so much joy and emotion as addressing these words in honor of Our Lady the Virgin of Guadalupe, patron saint of La Gomera».
The town crier highlighted the Descent of the patron saint, since “the image of the Virgin will make a pilgrimage through the towns of La Gomera, giving all the residents of the different municipalities and parishes of the Island the opportunity to venerate the Lady.”
After the reading of the proclamation, this island tour was staged with the participation of six young people who put a face to a new generation of La Gomera women, who, combining tradition and innovation, They pay tribute to the history of the Island. This is the case of the tenth recited by Soledad Arzola, from Alajeró, as well as the chácaras and the drum played by Lorena Negrín and Daniela Álvarez, from Hermigua and Valle Gran Rey, respectively, among other representatives of the municipalities.