The Record Newspaper 30 March 1995

Page 1

PERTH, WA: March 30, 1995

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Countering culture of death... TATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope John V Paul II said his encyclical on human life was designed to counter an advancing "culture of death" that seeks to legitimize practices such as abortion and euthanasia. In the encyclical, published this week, the church wants to proclaim that all human life is sacred - whether born or unborn, healthy or sick, young or old, he said. The encyclical, titled -Evangelium Vitae" ("The Gospel of Life"), was to be unveiled at a press conference by top Vatican officials, including Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The pope said he wrote the document Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life) because he is worried the church and others were losing ground in the pro-life struggle.

The pope's latest encyclical

That's what the encyclical is designed to do While there are positive signs regarding international peace, human rights and the war on hunger, there have also been serious defeats, he said. "A worrisome culture of death,' emerges not only in the fratricidal wars that still leave international regions bloody, and violence against the weakest ones, but above all in attacks on unborn life and on the elderly or terminally ill," he said. "The legitimization of abortion and the

growing demands concerning euthanasia mark other defeats of the 'culture of life,'" he said. The pope said the message of his encyclical is basic: that "human life is sacred, and God alone is the Lord of life." This is true regardless of a person's physical, racial, social or economic standing, he said. "It is valid for every stage of human life: for the person already born and for the one still in the mother's womb, for the person who is healthy and the one who is disabled or sick, for the young and for the old," he said. He said every weakening in the principle of respect for life eventually threatens the foundations of social harmony, democracy and true peace.

WASHINGTON (CNS) - "Evangelitun Vitae" is Pope John Paul H's 11th encyclical in his 16 years and five months as pope. Here is a chronological list of all his encyclicals. The Latin title comes from the opening words of each encyclical. The English translation is in brackets. I. Redemptor Hominis (The Redeemer of Man), 1979: On Jesus Christ and the dignity his redemption brings to the human race. 2. Dives in Misericordia (Rich in Mercy), 1980: On God the Father and the meaning of God's mercy. 3. Laborem Exercens (On Human Work), 1981: Social encyclical on workers' rights and dignity marking the 90th anniversary of Pope Leo VII's Renun Novarum. 4. Slavorum Apostoli (The Apostles of the Slays), 1985: Affirming Eastern Europe's Christian culture in a commemoration of Sts. Cyril and Methodius on the 1,100th anniversary of St. Methodius' death 5. Dominunz of Vivificantem (Lord and Giver of Life), 1986: On the living presence of the Holy Spirit in the church and the world. 6. Redemptoris Mater (Mother of the Redeemer), 1987: On Mary's role in the mystery of Christ and in the church. 7. Sollicitudo RdiSocialis (On Social Concerns). 1987: Second social encyclical, marking 20th anniversary of Pope Paul VI's social encyclical Populortzm Progressio. 8. Redemptoris Mi.ssio (The Mission of the Redeemer). 1991: On spreading the Gospel as the central and permanent mandate of the church. 9. Centesimus Annus (The Hundredth Year), 1991: Third social encyclical, analyzing the social situation in the light of communism's collapse on the 100th anniversary of Renzm Novarum. 10. Veritatis Splendor (The Splendor of Truth). 1993: First papal encyclical in history on the foundations of moral theology. 11. Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life), 1995: On abortion, euthanasia, embryonic experiments and other threats to human life, its sacredness and dignity.

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Canberra by-election message E Federal Government has said it has heard the message of the electorate. The issue of the interest rate rise on home mortgages last December and the confusion over environmental policy are said to be the issues, says Father David Cappo, National Director of the Australian Catholic Social Welfare Commission. He adds: "I am still not sure that the Federal Government and indeed all main political parties have really got the key message. "It seems clear that the Canberra community reflecting the feeling of the broad Australian community is telling the Government to change its priorities. "I believe that the real message that applies to all main politcal parties is to put social and environmental priorities right up there with the economic ones. "Also, politicians should focus more on the links between economic poli-

cies and specific outcomes for people. "All political parties must realise that Australian society is becoming increasingly astute and will no longer tolerate public policies that do no blend economic goals with family and social goals and benifits to the community. "The Native Title Act and the White Paper on Employment are major social policy successes for the Federal Government and noteable exceptions to an oversemphasis on economic policies. "And hopefully we will see housing policy shift its emphasis more towards social goals in the May budget. "Political parties of all persuasions still tend to deal with family and social policy as 'soft add-on policies' after the real game of economics has been played. I do not believe that the Australian electorate will tolerate political parties using this approach any longer.

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"The community is told by political parties to What parties that unless we get our bal- election campaign to come out with ance of trade under control, unless packages that promise a better time national savings improves dra- for all. our Australians matically and unless our industry "The Federal Government must policy is internationally competi- start to more seriously address the won't tive, then both economic and social blending of social, family, environstandards will suffer. mental and economic goals in the While this is plainly true and forthcoming May budget and the tolerate accepted by the community, it is the political plan of attack and policy response that the Australian community is seriously questioning." Fr Cappo also says that the community is looking to its political leaders to present a blend of economic, social, environmental and family policies that respond to major economic imperatives. It also wants political leaders to provide low and middle income families with the means to live with dignity and some sense of long term security. Cappo, David Father I Australian Catholic Sochi n conclusion, Fr Cappo says: "It isn't good enough for political Welfare Commission

coalition must begin to put its blend of social, family, environmental and economic policies on the table for discussion and debate. "Both sides of Australian politics should learn from the Canberra byelection.

"The community will see through a quick veneer approach to addressing social, family and environmental goals. "And the Australian electorate will no longer accept economic policy drive in a vacuum devoid of the needs of families and unlinked to outcomes for the community."


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