Posted on 09/20/2013 7:56:15 AM PDT by markomalley
In his strongest public words to date on the subject of abortion, Pope Francis affirmed the sacredness of unborn human life and linked its defence to the pursuit of social justice.
The Pope told a gathering of Catholic gynaecologists: “In all its phases and at every age, human life is always sacred and always of quality. And not as a matter of faith, but of reason and science.”
Pope Francis characterised abortion as a product of a “widespread mentality of profit, the ‘throwaway culture’, which has today enslaved the hearts and minds of so many.”
That mentality, he said, “calls for the elimination of human beings, above all if they are physically or socially weaker. Our response to that mentality is a decisive and unhesitating ‘yes’ to life.”
The Pope grouped together unborn children, the aged and the poor as among the most vulnerable people whom Christians are called especially to love.
“In the fragile human being each one of us is invited to recognise the face of the Lord, who in his human flesh experienced the indifference and solitude to which we often condemn the poorest, whether in developing countries or in wealthy societies,” he said.
“Every unborn child, though unjustly condemned to be aborted, has the face of the Lord, who even before his birth, and then as soon as he was born, experienced the rejection of the world,” he said. “And every old person, even if infirm and at the end of his days, carries with him the face of Christ. They must not be thrown away!”
Quoting Caritas in Veritate, the social encyclical by Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis connected the protection of unborn life with the promotion of social justice.
“Openness to life is at the centre of true development,” he said. “If personal and social sensitivity in welcoming a new life is lost, other forms of welcome useful to social life will dry up. Welcoming life tempers moral energies and makes people capable of helping each other.”
Pope Francis told the doctors that they faced a “paradoxical situation” in their professional lives, because even as medical science discovers new cures for disease, the “health care professions are sometimes induced not to respect life itself”.
The Pope characterised this paradox as part of a more widespread “cultural disorientation” in which rising individualism parallels a growing disrespect for life.
“Even as persons are accorded new rights, at times only presumed rights, life as the primary value and primordial right of every man is not always protected,” he said.
The Pope told the gynaecologists that they had a responsibility to make known the “transcendent dimension, the imprint of God’s creative work, in human life from the first instant of conception. And this is a commitment of new evangelisation that often requires going against the tide, paying a personal price. The Lord counts on you, too, to spread the Gospel of life.”
Pope Francis’s remarks came one day after the publication of an interview in which he warned that focusing on certain moral teachings, including abortion, could undermine the Church’s efforts to preach the Gospel.
Great points. I’ve observed, myself, that there’s something especially crazy about a culture in which both infanticide and artificial reproduction are not just legal, but socially untouchable “goods.”
Abortion is an ancient practice. Moloch worshippers have been killing babies for millenia. Both Aritstotle and Plato advocated abortion. They believed in necessary and unnecessary abortion. Hippocrates added a phrase to his oath wherein the oath-taker swore not to induce abortions. Early church fathers, including Tertullian, Jerome and John Chrysostom deounced abortion as murder.
The problem is not a throwaway culture. The problem is wicked men dead in trespasses and sin.
Ow! I think I just got whiplash.
Bless his heart. Abortion in the modern world grew not from capitalism, but rather from Scientific Progressivism. But when your tool is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
That’s not what the times said.
About time he said something strong on the evil of abortion.
“That’s not what the times said.”
I think that was a different time. Wasn’t one article when speaking to a journalist over a period of time.
This one was a speech to Catholic gynecologists.
The Pope told a gathering of Catholic gynaecologists: “In all its phases and at every age, human life is always sacred and always of quality. And not as a matter of faith, but of reason and science.”
Pope Francis characterised abortion as a product of a “widespread mentality of profit, the ‘throwaway culture’, which has today enslaved the hearts and minds of so many.”
That mentality, he said, “calls for the elimination of human beings, above all if they are physically or socially weaker. Our response to that mentality is a decisive and unhesitating ‘yes’ to life.”
This strong and clear teaching on life and abortion by Pope Francis comes one day after the publication of an interview in which he warned that focusing on certain moral teachings, including abortion, could undermine the Church’s efforts to preach the Gospel.
To many this is a contradiction. To me it is merely what Cardinal Dolan says of Pope Francis' papacy ... he is a man who profoundly believes in the mercy of a loving God, and who wants to bring that message of mercy to the entire world.
Even John Allen at National(cino)Reporter (no friends of authentic Catholicism) resists the liberal urge to exaggerate what Pope Francis said in the jesuit magazine causing such uproar ...
In general, Francis seems to suggest he wants the church to come off as less judgmental and more pastoral, though without becoming morally "lax."
Rather than condemning the world, he would prefer to praise the example of merciful Christ. Like the Theology of The Body, taught by Blessed (soon to be Saint) John Paul II the Great, I believe Pope Francis is seeking a “New Evangelization”, a new way of proposing Christianity to the world in all its beauty to be desired, that is more effective in reaching out to the entire body of Christ. It is clear that focusing on “rules-based” approach has not been effective in saving souls in the current culture. Perhaps Pope Francis is hoping to change that.
Well said. This has challenged me, because I'm a doctrine guy, like St. Thomas. Surprise! ;-)
And here is what they have ignored about what he has said on homosexuality and "same-sex marriage" ...
When Pope Francis chooses to speak on these issues, he will be quite clear on the established teaching of the Church.
And the presently 'orgasmic' (over the article in America (sic)) liberals will soon enough be weeping and gnashing their teeth. Pope Francis is a Jesuit in way of St. Ignatius of Loyola, not the dissenters of Georgetown.
It’s murder. That alone is reason enough to condemn it.
He could have just stuck to the basics.
Great post, Servant of the Cross!
I’m a “doctrine” person, too, but we’re in a world now where the clearest, most logically consistent, most obviously factual statement can be dismissed with, “Well, that’s true for you, but to me ...”.
Archbishop Bergoglio, as was, said that the Church today is less like the shepherd leaving the 99 in the fold to seek the one lost, and more like a shepherd staying in the fold with one while the 99 are lost. Being right, in itself, is not winning souls. Jesus didn’t rely on just being right. He went out after sinners, and we have to, as well.
Thank you. Me too. I needed to reflect and pray and not react in a worldly knee-jerk way to the initial articles on the now famous interview.
Some other terrific analysis and restoring of context over the remarks that have been greatly exaggerated:
Pope Francis Focuses on the Bigger Picture With New Interview
If simply saying, “ It’s murder,” were sufficient, abortion would be illegal worldwide. Since we don’t see that outcome, there is clearly more to be said.
OK let’s bring it down tothe trenches ... Regina almost 16 in “health” class had to stand - if you agree, stand here - disagree, stand there ... Questions were: If you’re girlfriend lies and says she is on the pill and then she gets pregnant, is the boy absolved, etc.
She stood tall and said “Keep your pants on there is a child involved ...”
Someone in the class then said “Are you crazy?”
Very difficult times ....
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