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The Gospel of Life Evangelium Vitae. An Encyclical Letter written by Pope John Paul II 1995. A papal letter addressed to bishops of the Church and widely distributed, generally concerned with matters, which affect the welfare of the Church at large. Encyclical Letter.
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The Gospel of LifeEvangelium Vitae An Encyclical Letter written by Pope John Paul II 1995
A papal letter addressed to bishops of the Church and widely distributed, generally concerned with matters, which affect the welfare of the Church at large. Encyclical Letter
The Gospel of LifeChapter 1 “The Voice of Your Brother’s Blood Cries to Me From the Ground” Present Day Threats to Human Life
“God did not make death and he does not delight in the death of the living…for he has created all things that they might exist… God created man for incorruption, and made him in the image of his own eternity, but through the devils envy death entered the world.”
“Conspiracy Against Life”Today we foster a Culture excessively concerned with: • Efficiency • Life Style • Eliminating Suffering (Real and Imagined) • Consumerism
“Conspiracy Against Life” • Contraception • Sterilization • Abortion • Euthanasia
At the Global Level there is a growing mood sensitivity… acknowledging the value and dignity of every individual as a human being without any distinction of race, nationality, religion, political opinion or social class.
Exceptions: • Weak • Needy • Elderly • Unborn What are the roots of this remarkable contradiction?
One root of this contradiction is Society’s Notion of Freedom • Exalts the Lone Individual in an Absolute Way • Complete Individualistic Concept of Freedom • Fosters a Desire to Emancipate Oneself from all forms of Tradition and Authority
This leads to a Serious Distortion of Life in Society • Absolute individual autonomy leads to rejection of one another • Common values and the truth become casualties • Finally, everything is negotiable or open to bargaining, including: The First of the Fundamental Rights, THE RIGHT TO LIFE
This “RIGHT”ceases to be such because it is no longer firmly founded in inviolable dignity of the person but it is made subject to the will of the stronger part.
Democracy, contradicting its own principles, moves to a form of Totalitarianism
“And From Your Face I shall be Hidden, the Eclipse of the Sense of God and of Man.”
God must remain as our focus in a secular society. “When the sense of God is lost, there is also a tendency to lose the sense of man.”
The Eclipse of the Sense of God leads to : • Materialism • Hedonism • Values of “being” are replaced by values of “having” • Primacy of “Quality of Life” • Inordinate Consumerism
The Eclipse of the Sense of God leads to a neglect of: Interpersonal, Spiritual, & Religious VALUES
Sexuality then becomes: depersonalized and exploitiveIts two purposes under God, to be unitive and procreative, are lost.
Results of the Sense of the Eclipse of God “When conscience, this bright lamp of the soul, calls ‘evil good and good evil,’ it is already on the path to the most alarming corruption and the darkest moral blindness.”
“Where is Abel your brother?”“I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”YES, every man is his brother’s keeper.
“The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.”
Realize that Freedom demands a responsibility to your fellow man. Sex is unitive and procreative Keep God as the focus in your life
Defend the Weak and Elderly And, finally, accept Moses’ invitation: “See, I have set before you this day life and good, death and evil… I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse: THEREFORE CHOOSE LIFE, that you and your descendents may live.”