Pope: "Non-Negotiable Human Rights" include "Right to Life and Right to Freedom of Conscience"

Lifesitenews.com ^ | 5/5/09 | Thaddeus M. Baklinski

[ReformationFan]

Pope: "Non-Negotiable Human Rights" include "Right to Life and Right to Freedom of Conscience and Religion"

VATICAN CITY, MAY 5, 2009 (LifeSIteNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI addressed members of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences yesterday at their plenary session which is focused on the theme of Catholic social teaching and human rights, and called for the promotion of universal human rights based on both faith and reason, affirming the "right to life and the right to freedom of conscience and religion as being at the center of those rights that spring from human nature itself."

The Holy Father noted that though these human rights are not strictly "truths of faith, even though they are discoverable - and indeed come to full light - in the message of Christ who "reveals man to man himself," they do "receive further confirmation from faith."

Giving an historical perspective to human rights as "the reference point of a shared universal ethos - at least at the level of aspiration - for most of humankind," the Pope spoke of the "vast suffering caused by two terrible world wars and the unspeakable crimes perpetrated by totalitarian ideologies," as a consequence of which "the international community acquired a new system of international law based on human rights."

[annalex]

Belief in the Old Testament stories aside, I obey the Ten Commandments in their substance as Natural Law and not as a dogma revealed through the Church, although the Church, of course, instructs me in it as well.

Excommunication serves two purposes: it prevents the sinner from taking the sacraments unworthily for his own good, and it informs the faithful of the falsity of a particular behavior or belief.

For what bishop Martino said, see 72 and the link in 67. I am correct and Kolokotronis and now you are wrong, as anyone who can read should see.

[TradicalRC]

The world God created is not magic and certainly nothing man's fancy could come up with. Talking donkeys, and Red Riding Hood are not from God. They are figments of man's imagination.

The world is not magic, it is a miracle. Red riding hood is not to be found in Scripture. God is supernatural and is not subject to a scientific faith in the so-called laws of nature. All is subject to Him.

[redgolum]

Now that is interesting Alex, and changes things quite a bit.

My synod is a bit old school. If Obama (or for that matter most politicians) would be invited to give the address at say, Concordia, there would be a bit blow up. But not just because of his getting an honorary degree.

In the LCMS, traditionally great care is taken when the synod or synodincal groups have events that the people involved in those official events conform to what the LCMS believes. So even having a Catholic Bishop like Burke give a little speech somewhere would cause a big issue.

The reason is if person A is known for a specific view X that contradicts a settled teaching of the LCMS, giving that person A a forum to speak can be seen as implying that position X either isn't that big of a deal or is debatable.

[annalex]

But how would such policy prepare the students to debate with non-Lutherans?

[redgolum]

I said this was at church sponsored events. Such as a graduation ceremony, or at the infamous Yankee stadium inter religious prayer service (don't ask, it gets real ugly).

Part of confirmation and most Lutheran schools that I knew growing up was apologetics. We would from time to time talk about theology from the Catholic or Reformed view points. And sometimes have a local pastor or priest talk some. But the major point is to say “This is their view, here is ours. As a Synod this is what we believe”.

The point was to do it in a manner where the audience and the people involved knew it was a debate. Where you know that the views the person holds are not what the LCMS holds, and the difference is made clear.

One of the major problems in American Catholic churches is that is not done. How many Obama stickers were on the bumpers of cars in your parish? How many married couples follow the Catholic teaching on birth control? By having a non Catholic or even anti Catholic give the commencement address at Notre Dame, and by not practicing church discipline in regards to politicians like Pelosi, a very mixed message is being sent. On one hand, you have the Pope and several bishops make very forceful statements on how you can't be pro abortion Catholic and take communion, and on the other hand many like Pelosi make a big deal of being pro abortion and being a faithful Catholic with no consequences.

So either there is an undeclared schism in the Catholic church, or abortion, contraception, etc isn't that big of a deal.

[Kolokotronis]

“For what bishop Martino said, see 72 and the link in 67. I am correct and Kolokotronis and now you are wrong, as anyone who can read should see.”

Alex, your snips from the diocesan letter don’t change at all what the heretic Martino is preaching (from inside The Church), namely that anti-abortionism is the sine qua non of Roman Catholicism, which is demonstrable heresy, quite aside from being, as Kosta points out, completely untrue, except perhaps in the twisted mind of a person like Martino. He said what he said, Alex.

While the hypocrisy of the Latin Church in America on the issue of abortion must concern all Orthodox Christians, the fact that it tolerates a heretic like Martino to preach from the throne of an Archbishop shows just how far the hierarchy of the American Latin Church has allowed the rot of mundane politics to distort the Church’s message and so deaden the sensitivities of that hierarchy that it fails to act to anathemize both the heresy and the heresiarch in their midst.

[kosta50]

So either there is an undeclared schism in the Catholic church, or abortion, contraception, etc isn't that big of a deal

Well put. It's the classic case of emperor's clothes. Everyone sees it's missing, but everyone pretends it's not.

There is also a strong Phairsiacal culture of self-righteousness among many a self-proclained "true" Catholic.

[kosta50]

The world is not magic, it is a miracle.

That's because it's above our pay grade.

God is supernatural and is not subject to a scientific faith in the so-called laws of nature

Indeed, that which caused all this to exist, directly or indirectly, is not of this world. The rest is human fancy.

[getoffmylawn]

While the hypocrisy of the Latin Church in America on the issue of abortion must concern all Orthodox Christians, the fact that it tolerates a heretic like Martino to preach from the throne of an Archbishop shows just how far the hierarchy of the American Latin Church has allowed the rot of mundane politics to distort the Church’s message and so deaden the sensitivities of that hierarchy that it fails to act to anathemize both the heresy and the heresiarch in their midst.

Well put. This is a very sad thread.

[annalex]

Certainly there is an undeclared schism. I am merely pointing out that inviting a speaker is not the same as honoring someone.

[annalex]

what the heretic Martino is preaching (from inside The Church), namely that anti-abortionism is the sine qua non of Roman Catholicism, which is demonstrable heresy

Ah. so you agree that the pastoral letter does not compare social teaching with theological dogmas? Now the issue becomes that pariticipation in violations of the Ten Commandments is "sine qua non of Roman Catholicism". Sure it is. Thank God.

[redgolum]

I disagree, but as I said the standards of “scandal for the faithful” is much different among conservative Lutherans than Catholics it seems.

But if the invite isn't the problem, then the meaningless honorary degree shouldn't be either.

[annalex]

How is honoring or not honoring someone meaningless? Honoring means approval; invitation to speak is just necessary debate.