WARSAW, Poland, November 10, 2017 (LifeSiteNews) – A committee of Polish bishops has released a statement asserting the right to life of the unborn child and putting the committee’s weight behind a new abolitionist campaign.
The letter, signed November 8, appeared 13 months after the defeat of a bill that would have made abortion in Poland illegal in almost every circumstance. Currently the law allows for the abortion of children conceived in rape, children with severe disabilities, and children whose gestation puts their mother’s life or health in jeopardy.
The Bishops’ committee said that every child, “even the sick child”, has the right to live. Citing modern scientific evidence that human life begins at conception, the bishops stated that “protecting the lives of unborn children is not only a question of religion or belief, but is one of the most fundamental duties of every human being.
In addition, the committee encouraged all Poles to support the postcard campaign of the abolitionist group “Zatrzymaj aborcję” (“Stop Abortion”). This campaign seeks to convince the government to extend the protection of Polish law to all unborn human beings. The deadline for receiving the postcards is midnight November 20/21.
Appeal of the Presidium of the Polish Bishops’ Conference on the protection of the right to life from the moment of conception to natural death.
The right to life is a fundamental right of every human being. Every child has the right to live, even the sick child. We must especially protect the right [to life] of a defenceless child living below the heart of its mother, just as we protect the life of a child after its birth. The fact that from the moment of conception there is already a human being in existence – although only in the embryonic stage – is indisputable according to modern science. Protecting the lives of unborn children is not only a question of religion or belief, but is one of the most fundamental duties of every human being.
Saint John Paul II found no justification for killing children. In the Encyclical “Evangelium Vitae” he affirmed: «The deliberate decision to deprive an innocent human being of his life is always morally evil and can never be licit either as an end in itself or as a means to a good end. It is in fact a grave act of disobedience to the moral law, and indeed to God himself, the author and guarantor of that law; it contradicts the fundamental virtues of justice and charity. “Nothing and no one can in any way permit the killing of an innocent human being, whether a foetus or an embryo, an infant or an adult, an old person, or one suffering from an incurable disease, or a person who is dying. Furthermore, no one is permitted to ask for this act of killing, either for himself or herself or for another person entrusted to his or her care, nor can he or she consent to it, either explicitly or implicitly. Nor can any authority legitimately recommend or permit such an action.”» (Evangelium Vitae, 57).
In connection with this, the Presidium of the Polish Bishops’ Conference encourages everyone to support the citizens’ legislative initiative “Zatrzymaj aborcję” (“Stop Abortion”) which is aimed at greater protection for the life of the unborn child (www.zatrzymajaborcje.pl). This is an important step towards the protection of all life from the moment of conception to natural death. In a few days, the time for collecting signatures will end, so once again we encourage you to support this initiative. Signed cards should be sent to the organisers [by 21st November] so that they can reach [the Polish] Parliament by the end of November.
The Catholic Church in Poland constantly supports families in difficult life situations. If parents – despite psychological, medical and material support – decide not to bring up a child, they can always [give] the child up for adoption, especially when so many families are ready to take them into their care with open hearts.
Killing children should never take place. Instead of Abortion – Adoption!
We ask you for prayers for unborn children that from the moment of conception they will be loved, be guaranteed the right to be born and from then on to live a happy life.
+ Stanisław Gądecki,
Poznań Metropolitan Archbishop,
President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference.
+ Marek Jędraszewski,
Kraków Metropolitan Archbishop,
Vice-President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference.
+ Artur Miziński,
Bishop, Secretary General of the Polish Bishops’ Conference,
Warszawa, 8th November, 2017