Monday February 6, 2006
Pope Condemns “Hedonism” as Inspiration for Abortion
By Terry Vanderheyden
VATICAN CITY, February 6, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Pope Benedict XVI, in addresses Sunday, fingered “widespread hedonism” as the source for the lack of respect for human life that underlies abortion in society.
Addressing 40,000 pilgrims led by Italian Prelate Cardinal Camillo Ruini who came to commemorate Italy’s Day for Life, the Pope said, “Each human life, such as it is . . . deserves and demands that it be protected and promoted. We know only too well that this truth is often put at risk by today’s widespread hedonism, our pursuit of a so-called society of well being. When this happens human life is exalted as long as it fascinates us and gives us pleasure, but when it is shadowed by illness or when it is no longer attractive, then it is no longer respected,” according to an AsiaNews report.
Addressing the Vatican Parish of St. Anne’s earlier in the day, Pope Benedict explained the key differences between the modern view towards life and that held by Christians. “Simplified: one maintains that human life is in the hands of man, the other in the hands of God,” he said. “Modern culture has legitimately emphasized man’s autonomy and earthly reality, in this way developing a perspective dear to the heart of Christianity, that of the Incarnation of God. But, as Vatican II clearly stated, if this leads to the opinion that ‘all things created do not depend on God and that man can adapt them without reference to the creator,’ then, the origins for profound instability are laid.”
See AsiaNews coverage:
http://asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=5300
Latest Headlines
- "Manhattan Declaration" Embodies U.S. Christian Pushback against Abortion, Same-Sex "Marriage"

- Hoffman Loses Final Tally of NY-23 Race; Alleges ACORN Tampering and Fraud

- Abortion Activist Judge Hamilton Confirmed with Help of Ten Republican Senators

- CDC Reverses Gardasil Vaccine Requirement for Immigrants

- Germany Faces Economic Downturn with Plummeting Birth Rate and Aging Population

- CCHD in Archdiocese of Chicago Says it is Working to Fix Problems

- Rejection of Washington DC Marriage Referendum Challenged With Legal Suit

- Obama-Supporting Homosexual Activist to Out Sexually Involved Priests Unless they Support Gay 'Marriage

- Austrian Catholic Bishops Issue Bland Response to Govt's Homosexual Partnership Bill

- Interim Report on Catholic Sex-Abuse Says "Homosexual Identity" Not a Predictor of Sex Abuse

- Commentary on Nov 20 NewsBytes

- LSN NewsBytes - US Health Care Reform

- LSN NewsBytes - Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD)

- LSN NewsBytes - Life Issues, Religion, Swine Flu, US Politics, Sarah Palin, Miscellaneous

- LSN NewsBytes - Climate Change/Global Warming

- 59 Bishops Contributed Financially to Maine Bishop's Effort to Oppose Maine Same-Sex "Marriage" Law

- Pro-Abortion Lawmakers Shower Praise on Senate Bill's Phony Abortion Compromise

Most Read this Week
- Largest U.S. Homosexual Publisher Shuts Down, Closing Major Gay Newspapers
- EWTN's Arroyo Hosts Reform CCHD Reps Who Reveal Shocking Evidence Against USCCB Anti-Poverty Arm
- Italian Mayors Order Crufixes Put in Classrooms in Revolt against European Court Ruling
- Nat'l Organization for Marriage Responds to Miss California "Sex Tape" Scandal
- Obama Evades Questioning on Stupak Amendment in FOX Interview
- French Judge Finds Hospital Guilty of "Unreasonable Obstinacy" in Saving Newborn's Life
- EU Leaders to Choose President today in Secret "Soviet Style" Meetings
- Hoffman "Unconcedes" Battle for NY-23: Recount Provides Hope for "Miracle" Victory
- CCHD Responds to Reform Movement
- "Manhattan Declaration" Embodies U.S. Christian Pushback against Abortion, Same-Sex "Marriage"
MORE NEWS:
LifeSiteNews.com Home Page
Last 10 Days
Archives
Special Reports
Copyright © LifeSiteNews.com. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives License. You may republish this article or portions of it without request provided the content is not altered and it is clearly attributed to "LifeSiteNews.com". Any website publishing of complete or large portions of original LifeSiteNews articles MUST additionally include a live link to www.LifeSiteNews.com. The link is not required for excerpts. Republishing of articles on LifeSiteNews.com from other sources as noted is subject to the conditions of those sources.








Back to Top