VATICAN CITY, November 15, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – In an audience Saturday with members of the group Christian Office of the Handicapped, Pope John Paul II used the occasion to emphasize the inherent value of the human person, regardless of societal status, and to call on political leaders to recognise the inherent value of the handicapped, before and after birth. “Your presence,” the Holy Father said to 50 members of the group, “invites me to appeal once again in an urgent manner to all people of good will, especially government leaders and legislators, to have an elevated awareness and humanity so that all human life is protected, especially that of the weakest, the smallest and the poorest, and to stop all actions aimed at eliminating conceived and unborn children, who are defenceless, with man thus making himself the master of life,” according to a Vatican Information Service report. In a message made public Friday, Pope John Paul II also addressed the Italian Association of Radio Listeners and Television Viewers on the occasion of their 50th anniversary. The association was begun by the group Catholic Action “to promote the dignity of the person, the family, schools and to safeguard the rights and cultural, spiritual and moral interests of citizens,” according to the Holy Father’s letter, as reported by VIS.
“It is necessary to help television viewers, especially families, to make mature use of the medium of television in order to know how to discern with balance and wisdom the transmissions that are in line with the Christian vision of the world and of man,” the Holy Father said. Pope John Paul II said, “the legitimate needs of the worlds of communication and entertainment must be harmonized with the rights of individuals and families, without ever giving in to the illusions of those who want to confuse truth with opinion, and while avoiding exposing the most sacred and intimate aspects of family life to becoming spectacles and being banally vulgarized.” Tv