VIDEO-CONFERENCE 27th JANUARY 2006
Pope John
Paul 11’s encyclical on the sacredness of human life – Evangelium Vitae -
(The Gospel of Life) released on the 25th March 1995 addressed the problem of
the threats to human life posed by the spread of what he calls the “culture of
death” which militates against life in many of its forms. He writes: “This
culture is actively fostered by powerful cultural, economic and political
currents which encourage an idea of a society excessively concerned with
efficiency” (para. 12). Indeed, John Paul sees secularism as the root of the
culture of death. The political theory supporting the culture of death is
contemporary liberalism. He argues that
It is … urgently necessary for the future of
society and the
development of a social democracy, to
rediscover those essential
and innate human and moral values which flow
from the very truth
of the human being and safeguard the dignity
of the person: values
which no individual, no majority and no State
can ever create modify
or destroy, but must only acknowledge, respect
and promote. [para. 71]
John Paul
sees in a “self-centered concept of freedom” a weakening of social and moral
bonds and a pull towards relativism and even nihilism. Indeed, true freedom
must possess a relational dimension. Pope John Paul condemns “a notion of
freedom which exalts the isolated individual in an absolute way, and gives no
place to solidarity, to openness to others and service of them” [para.19]
Freedom is also self-destructive when it is unrelated to truth. John Paul
states strongly that
To claim the right to abortion, infanticide
and euthanasia and to
recognise that right in law, means to attribute
to human freedom a
perverse and evil significance: that of an
absolute power over others
and against others. This is the
death of true freedom: “Truly, truly,
I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a
slave to sin” (Jn 8:34)
Yes, our contemporary moral and political values need to be challenged by the Catholic tradition and perspective. Human life is a manifestation of God in the world, a gift of God to be gratefully received, cherished and protected. Life is indeed joyful. This means that it has to be proclaimed as such [80-82], celebrated [83-86] and served [87-90]. The message of life is at the heart of the Gospel: it has to be brought “to the heart of every man and woman … [so as] to make it penetrate to every part of society” [para. 80].
In his final
prayer in the encyclical the Pope calls on Mary as the mother of all the living
and entrusts to her the cause of all life especially the protection of unborn
babies, the poor, all victims of violence, and the elderly and the sick whose
lives are terminated as a result of a misguided sense of mercy. All persons of
goodwill are enjoined to build a civilization of truth, life and love
[para.102-105].
Prof. Rodney
Moss