Early in December the United Nations posits day focusing attention on life-challenged people, human rights, and the value of volunteering. Last October, Pope Benedict XVI stated “… in the context of work of the weakest and most defenceless, who is more helpless than a newborn infant or a sick person in a vegetative or terminal condition? When political projects contemplate openly or in a veiled manner, the decriminalization of abortion or euthanasia, the democratic ideal − which is only truly such when it acknowledges and safeguards the dignity of every human person – is betrayed in its very foundation (Evangelium Vitae, n. 74).
“Therefore... in defending life ‘we must not fear hostility or unpopularity, and we must refuse any compromise or ambiguity which might conform us to the world’s way of thinking (Evangelium Vitae, n. 82).”
Addressing the Bishops Conference of Brazil North East 5th Region, Pope Benedict XVI reiterated that “the immediate duty to work for a just social order is incumbent on the lay faithful who, as free and responsible citizens, strive to contribute to the right configuration of social life, with respect for its legitimate autonomy and for the natural moral order (cf. Deus Caritas Est., n. 29) and called upon the Bishops saying that “when the fundamental right of the person or the salvation of souls so require, it is the serious duty of Bishops to issue a moral judgement, even in political matters (cf. Guadium et Spes, n. 76).
“In forming these opinions Bishops must keep in mind the absolute value of those negative moral precepts that hold as morally inacceptable the choice of a certain intrinsically evil action incompatible with the dignity of he human person. This decision cannot be redeemed by the goodness of any purpose, intention, consequence or circumstance. Therefore any defence of political, economic and social human rights would be totally false and deceptive that did not include a strong defence of a right to life from conception to natural death (cf. Christifideles Laici, no. 38).
The Pontiff further concluded: “In addition, the better to help lay people live their Christian and socio-political commitment in a uniform, and consistent manner…” There will also need to be social catechesis and a sufficient formation in the social teaching of the Church, for which a very useful tool is the “Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church”. This also means that on specific occasions, the Bishops must also remind all the citizens of the right, which is also a duty, to use their own vote freely in order to promote the common good (cf. Gaudium et Spes, n. 75).
“On this point politics and faith converge. Without the corrective supplied by religion, though, reason too can fall prey to distortions, as when it is manipulated by ideology, or applied in a partial way that fails to take full account of the dignity of the human person (Address to Representatives of British Society, Westminster Hall, London, 17 September).”
Though the above was addressed by Benedict XVI to the Bishops of one region of far away Portugese speaking Brazil, they are equally relevant in the context of developments within the EU and any additional comments by the undersigned would be superfluous.
J. Bonett Balzan
BALLUTA