Posted on 11/21/2014 12:01:51 PM PST by Mrs. Don-o
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met with the Association of Italian Catholic Doctors on Saturday. He urged them to resist “false compassion” and “witness by word and by example that human life is always sacred, valuable, and inviolable.”
Read the full statement below:
I welcome you on the occasion of the seventieth anniversary of the founding of the Association of Italian Catholic Doctors. In particular, I address a cordial greeting to the chaplain, Msgr. Edward Menichelli, to Cardinal Fiorenzo Angelini, who for decades has followed the life of the Association, and to the President, whom I thank for the words with which he introduced this meeting. With gratitude, I greet the Minister of Health, Mrs. Beatrice Lorenzin. And with great affection, I welcome these sick children and their families.
There is no doubt that, in our time, due to scientific and technical advancements, the possibilities for physical healing have significantly increased; and yet, in some respects it seems the ability to "take care" of the person has decreased, especially when he is sick, frail and helpless. In fact, the achievements of science and of medicine can contribute to the improvement of human life to the extent that they are not distanced from the ethical root of these disciplines. For this reason, you Catholic doctors are committed to live your profession as a human and spiritual mission, as a real lay apostolate.
Attention to human life, especially that in greatest difficulty, that is, to the sick, the elderly, children, deeply involves the mission of the Church. The Church also feels called to participate in the debate that relates to human life, presenting its proposal based on the Gospel. In many places, the quality of life is related primarily to economic means, to "well-being", to the beauty and enjoyment of the physical, forgetting other more profound dimensions of existence — interpersonal, spiritual and religious.In fact, in the light of faith and right reason, human life is always sacred and always "of quality". There is no human life that is more sacred than another - every human life is sacred - just as there is no human life qualitatively more significant than another, only by virtue of resources, rights, great social and economic opportunities.
This is what you, Catholic doctors, try to say, first of all with your professionalism. Your work wants to witness by word and by example that human life is always sacred, valuable and inviolable. And as such, it must be loved, defended and cared for. Your professionalism, enriched with the spirit of faith, is one more reason to work with those— even from different religious perspectives or thought—who recognize the dignity of the human person as a criterion for their activities. In fact, if the Hippocratic Oath commits you to always be servants of life, the Gospel pushes you further: to love it no matter what, especially when it is in need of special care and attention. This is what the members of your Association have done over seventy years of fine work. I urge you to continue with humility and trust on this road, striving to pursue your statutory goals of implementing the teaching of the Magisterium of the Church in the field of medical ethics.
The dominant thinking sometimes suggests a "false compassion", that which believes that it is: helpful to women to promote abortion; an act of dignity to obtain euthanasia; a scientific breakthrough to "produce" a child and to consider it to be a right rather than a gift to welcome; or to use human lives as guinea pigs presumably to save others. Instead, the compassion of the Gospel is that which accompanies in times of need, that is, the compassion of the Good Samaritan, who "sees", "has compassion", approaches and provides concrete help (cf. Lk 10:33). Your mission as doctors puts you in daily contact with many forms of suffering. I encourage you to take them on as "Good Samaritans", caring in a special way for the elderly, the infirm and the disabled. Fidelity to the Gospel of life and respect for life as a gift from God sometimes require choices that are courageous and go against the current, which in particular circumstances, may become points of conscientious objection. And this fidelity entails many social consequences. We are living in a time of experimentation with life. But a bad experiment. Making children rather than accepting them as a gift, as I said. Playing with life. Be careful, because this is a sin against the Creator: against God the Creator, who created things this way.
When so many times in my life as a priest I have heard objections: “But tell me, why the Church is opposed to abortion, for example? Is it a religious problem?” No, no. It is not a religious problem. “Is it a philosophical problem?” No, it is not a philosophical problem. It’s a scientific problem, because there is a human life there, and it is not lawful to take out a human life to solve a problem. “But no, modern thought…” But, listen, in ancient thought and modern thought, the word “kill” means the same thing.
The same evaluation applies to euthanasia: we all know that with so many old people, in this culture of waste, there is this hidden euthanasia. But there is also the other. And this is to say to God, “No, I will accomplish the end of life, as I will.” A sin against God the Creator! Think hard about this.
I hope the seventy years of your association will stimulate a further process of growth and maturation. May you work constructively with all the people and institutions who share your love of life and seek to serve it in its dignity, sanctity and inviolability. St. Camillus de Lellis, in suggesting the most effective method in caring for the sick, would simply say: "Put more heart into those hands." Put more heart in these hands! This is also my hope. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Salus infirmorum, support the intentions with which you intend to continue your action. I ask you to please pray for me and I give you my heartfelt blessing.
"When so many times in my life as a priest I have heard objections: “But tell me, why the Church is opposed to abortion, for example? Is it a religious problem?” No, no. It is not a religious problem. “Is it a philosophical problem?” No, it is not a philosophical problem. It’s a scientific problem, because there is a human life there, and it is not lawful to take out a human life to solve a problem.“But no, modern thought -- ”
But, listen, in ancient thought and modern thought, the word “kill” means the same thing.
Did you read this in the New York Times? In the WaPo??
In Reuters?
See it on CNN?
Or even in Rorate Caeli?
No?
Things that make you go "Hmmm..."
Benedict?
Francis.
So he thinks it's only a scientific/legal problem? I'm sorry Francis, but it is a religious problem.
You honestly can't figure out what he's saying here? He's saying an ethic prohibiting abortion is not a distinctive "belief" of a Church based on faith in a supernatural source of revelation. If it were that, "Don't abort your children" would have the same status as, say, "Go to Mass on Sunday." It's something you could not credibly propose to somebody outside of your faith. You could not propose it to civil society.
But the prohibition on abortion is based on the verifiable human status of the victim of the act. An atheist can see that. Nat Hentoff can see that.
It has its religious aspects, to be sure. It has its philosophical aspects as well. But it is solidly rooted in Natural Law. Thus it can be required of one's fellow citizens in a State which still Constitutionally prohibits any "religious test."
Any other questions, Alex?
Talking with a less-than-forthcoming circular-reasoning RC, such as this one, can make a Christian dizzy. I’ve had enough of this flavor of religious insanity for today,
I think *Thou shalt not murder* would cover it.
So, yes, there IS a religious prohibition.
Of course.
Perhaps Pope Francis has too much faith in the mental acuity of his listeners.
As astute observation. :o/
You’re too kind. :)
“May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Salus infirmorum, support the intentions with which you intend to continue your action. I ask you to please pray for me and I give you my heartfelt blessing.”
Now lets make it Biblical and not Idolize a fellow servant of God (Mary) or “Salus” a Roman godess.
May the Lord Jesus Christ, support the intentions with which you intend to continue your action. I ask you to please pray for me and I give you my heartfelt blessing.
Oh Church of Thyatira I Pray that your veil will be lifted.
Celebrate the Sanctity of Life!
Mary IS a fellow servant of God. She is no goddess: she is a handmaid. ON this we agree. She is certainly no a goddess called "Salus" --- Salus is a Latin word meaning "safetry, well-being" --- they may have named a Goddess "Well-being" but that does nit mean that every reference to "well-bein" is a reference to this goddess.
No, Mary is a servant, and one saved by her own Son, by Jesus whom she calls her Savior.
"May the Lord Jesus Christ, support the intentions with which you intend to continue your action. I ask you to please pray for me and I give you my heartfelt blessing."
I recognize your beautiful goodwill here, and I join myself in your prayer. May God be praised in your prayers and mine, and in the prayers of all the His holy ones. All saints, pray for us!
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