Pope Benedict XVI Calls Abortion "Today's Gravest Injustice"

LifeSiteNews ^ | 3/20/06 | John-Henry Westen

[wagglebee]

VATICAN, March 20, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In a meeting today with representatives of the Vatican to international organizations, Pope Benedict XVI stressed that respect for the truth is the bases of justice. 
"Relations between States and within States are just in so far as they respect the truth," he said. "When, however, the truth is offended, peace is threatened and rule of law is compromised, then, as a logical consequence, injustices arise."

Representatives from the Vatican have been involved in the most difficult struggles at the United Nations where they are a guard against attacks on the family, and on the unborn.  The Pope mentioned those struggles specifically in his address to the Vatican representatives, stressing that "today's gravest injustice" is the suppression of nascent life. 

"These injustices can adopt many faces," said Benedict XVI. "For example, the face of disinterest or disorder, which can even go so far as to damage the structure of that founding cell of society that is the family; or perhaps the face of arrogance that can lead to abuse, silencing those without a voice or without the strength to make themselves heard, as happens in the case of today's gravest injustice, that which suppresses nascent human life."

The Pope concluded by telling the Holy See representatives that through "difficulties and misunderstandings" they "participate authoritatively in the prophetic responsibility of the Church, which intends to continue to raise her voice in defense of mankind, even when policies of States and the majority of public opinion moves in the opposite direction. Truth, indeed, draws strength from itself and not from the amount of consent it arouses."

(with files from the Vatican Information Service)

See the full address (in Italian):
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2006...

[wagglebee]

Representatives from the Vatican have been involved in the most difficult struggles at the United Nations where they are a guard against attacks on the family, and on the unborn.

I would love to see the Pope condemn the UN next.

[wagglebee]

Ping!

[Threepwood]

This Pope is a hard, holy, old man. If the UN needs it, it'll get it.

[kellynla]

BTTT

[onyx]

He's the best!
I love our Pope.

[the invisib1e hand]

Being Catholic is about the most intellectually satisfying thing I've ever experienced.

[DieHard the Hunter]

The Holy Father is right on the issue of Abortion. Let us pray that he's as tough and as resolute in his beliefs as were Popes John Paul I and II.

(I am not Catholic, but I know who the Good Guys are when I see 'em)

[wagglebee]

We will never really know what JPI's views were; however, JPII's feelings were unequivocal. Benedict worked so long and closely with JPI that it is almost certain he will continue the mission to destroy the satanic Culture of Death. Everything that I've seen the past eleven months has impressed me greatly.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> We will never really know what JPI's views were

JPI (Luciani) made his views very clear prior to becoming Pope. He was a prodigious writer and one of the finest minds of the twentieth century, in my opinion. It's increasingly difficult to find his writings as time marches on: but I recommend them to you. Luciani is fun to read, and he makes you think!

[cubreporter]

He is right. Abortion is murder plain and simple of babies who are not wanted for whatever reason. He is right.

[TigersEye]

Abortion is not about saving women’s lives!

Studies Find Abortions Have Long-Term Adverse Effects

Total Abortions since 1973

45,951,133

------------------------------------------------------------

Why the drop after 1960? (in deaths of women from illegal abortions)

The reasons were new and better antibiotics, better surgery and the establishment of intensive care units in hospitals. This was in the face of a rising population. Between 1967 and 1970 sixteen states legalized abortion. In most it was limited, only for rape, incest and severe fetal handicap (life of mother was legal in all states). There were two big exceptions — California in 1967, and New York in 1970 allowed abortion on demand. Now look at the chart carefully.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Abortion Statistics - Decision to Have an Abortion (U.S.)

· 25.5% of women deciding to have an abortion want to postpone childbearing

· 21.3% of women cannot afford a baby

· 14.1% of women have a relationship issue or their partner does not want a child

· 12.2% of women are too young (their parents or others object to the pregnancy)

· 10.8% of women feel a child will disrupt their education or career

· 7.9% of women want no (more) children

· 3.3% of women have an abortion due to a risk to fetal health

2.8% of women have an abortion due to a risk to maternal health

----------------------------------------------------------------------

So how many women’s lives have been saved by abortion?

Only about 3% of abortions since 1972 were reported to be “due to a risk to maternal health.” A reasonable person would recognize that not all of those cases represent a lethal risk. But let’s say they did. That means that nearly 45 million fetuses were butchered to save the lives of about 1.3 million women. Or put another way; 35 babies are killed to save each woman.

Abortion was legal in all 50 states prior to Roe v. Wade in cases of danger to the life of the woman.

Roe v Wade: FULL Text (The Decision that wiped out an entire Generation 33 years ago today)

[wagglebee]

I read a book a long time ago (early 80's) called "St. Peter's Banker" about the probable conspiracy to murder JPI because he was about to expose the Vatican Bank's ties to organized crime. But one of the other things it mentioned was that he was considering lifting the ban on contraception. Of course, that may have all been a rumor.

My family has a close friend who worked in the Vatican for over thirty years, I may see if he has any of JPI's writings from when he was a cardinal, I would be interested to read them (although I presume they would be in Italian which would do me no good).

[Free ThinkerNY]

It's not just an injustice. It's a crime against humanity.

[DieHard the Hunter]

By all reports, Albino Luciani Pope John Paul I was a very Holy man. By his writings he did indeed support the use of contraception for the greater good.

I have read nothing bad about JP-I.

He was a great Pope. Where would the world be now, today, had Luciani been able to see thru his term?

(No disrespect to the late Carol Wojtyla Pope John Paul II RIP, who was also a great man)

[cgk]

Pro-Life/Pro-Baby ping!

Please FReepmail me if you would like to be added to, or removed from, the Pro-Life/Pro-Baby ping list...

[Im4LifeandLiberty]

"By his writings he did indeed support the use of contraception for the greater good."

I should be aware of these, but could you refer me to a few sources? I have heard much about John Paul II having greatly admired Pope John Paul I, and would find it surprising had JPI promoted the ideas that JPII devoted his blessed papacy to countering.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> I should be aware of these, but could you refer me to a few sources?

OK fair enough -- give me a wee while and I'll compile a few for you.

[bushinohio]

So do I. I keep hoping and praying that more priests, ministers, and holy people will get tougher on abortion. I'd like to see them really start giving some hellfire and brimstone speeches about this evil practice!

[onyx]

I pray they will. It "is" their job.