Beloved Sisters and Brothers!
Fragment of the Gospel of St. Mark, for today's eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, leaves us a message about the kingdom of God, which God “sows” into the soil of the human heart. Liturgical texts explain that it is “the kingdom of truth and life, the kingdom of holiness and grace, the kingdom of justice, love and peace.” In the parable of the mustard seed, we see God's concern for human life, for dignified and appropriate conditions for its development and growth, and, finally, for its salvation. Almighty God is the Giver of Life, which is why He is present in the conception and life of every person. The life of a new, unique human person begins at conception, i.e. the union of mother's and father's cells. From that moment on, every person should have the full right to life protection.
"There can be no true democracy without a recognition of every person's dignity and without respect for his or her rights.” – reminded Saint John Paul II in the encyclical Evangelium vitae (no. 101). The rights of every person to life are protected by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the Constitution of the Republic of Poland and statutory provisions. This is an elementary principle inherent in human nature that must not be violated. “It must, therefore, be stated with all force and clarity, even in our time, that “this defense of unborn life is closely linked to the defense of each and every other human right. It involves the conviction that a human being is always sacred and inviolable, in any situation and at every stage of development.” (Declaration of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith Dignitas infinita, 47).
We are currently witnessing growing pressure to change the legal protection of human life towards legalizing the killing of a child in the mother's womb. This is very disturbing and extremely dangerous to public safety. Every person of good will should oppose this. Life, as the primary value of every human being and a fundamental element of the common good, is a basic good that prevails over the individual freedom of others. Therefore, in the name of personal freedom, no one has the right to decide about another person's life.
The Church consistently reminds us that “the dignity of every human being has an intrinsic character and is valid from the moment of conception until natural death.” (Dignitas infinita, 47). “Thou shalt not kill” and “protect human life” - these are the basic principles that every person of good conscience should follow. Contrary to a fairly common narrative, they are not an expression of beliefs resulting only from the Christian faith, but come from an understanding of human nature itself.
It is worth emphasizing the importance of a loving family, built on the lasting marriage of parents, constituting the “sanctuary of life” and the basic social unit, for the protection of beginning life. “Thus, a man and woman joined in matrimony become partners in a divine undertaking: through the act of procreation, God's gift is accepted and a new life opens to the future.” (Evangelium vitae, 43). Meanwhile, the murder of a conceived child causes serious psychophysical and spiritual suffering, often leading to the breakdown of the family.
We express great respect and appreciation for mothers who serve life with love and protect their children even in the most difficult situations. They prove that the joy, beauty and greatness of motherly love are expressed in everlasting concern for the well-being of children regardless of the circumstances.
We also turn to fathers, whose role is to protect the family, especially women in a blessed state and their children. Your loving commitment to defend the most vulnerable, those in need of special support, is irreplaceable. Therefore, today you must not distance yourself from your involvement in the legal protection of human life.
However, it sometimes happens that a pregnant mother finds herself in a very difficult situation and needs specialized help. The Church, non-governmental organizations and local institutions carry it through, among others, Single Mother's Homes and Windows of Life, providing material, legal and psychological support. This help can never be lacking from the state either. We are all obliged to it.
Concern for life is also expressed by the fact that we must not force doctors, medical staff and pharmacists to engage in the practice of killing prenatal children or the elderly and sick. Such actions violate the fundamental right to observe the conscience clause.
As shepherds of the Catholic Church in Poland and, at the same time, citizens of our country, we have the right and duty to remind - both the faithful of the Catholic Church and all people of good will - that we are obliged to respect people, especially the weakest and defenseless. Special responsibility for their lives rests with those who, pursuant to a social mandate, have been entrusted with caring for the common good.
Pope Francis recently addressed us Poles: “Let Poland be a land that protects life at every moment, from the moment it appears in the mother's womb until its natural end. Don't forget that no one is the master of life, either their own or that of others. I bless you from my heart!” (Francis, Words to Poles during the general audience, March 20, 2024).
Thanking everyone who serves life and truth in various dimensions of personal and public life, in the name of Christ we ask you for a persistent and sacrificial defense of the Gospel of life. Let us all join in the great prayer for this intention, offered today through the intercession of the Holy Mother of God, Mary, in the words of St. John Paul II (Evangelium vitae, 105).
O Mary, bright dawn of the new world, Mother of the living, to you do we entrust the cause of life Look down, O Mother, upon the vast numbers of babies not allowed to be born, of the poor whose lives are made difficult, of men and women who are victims of brutal violence, of the elderly and the sick killed by indifference or out of misguided mercy.
Grant that all who believe in your Son may proclaim the Gospel of life with honesty and love to the people of our time.
Obtain for them the grace to accept that Gospel as a gift ever new, the joy of celebrating it with gratitude throughout their lives and the courage to bear witness to it resolutely, in order to build, together with all people of good will, the civilization of truth and love, to the praise and glory of God, the Creator and lover of life.
Signed by the shepherds of the Catholic Church in Poland present at the 398th Plenary Meeting of the Polish Episcopal Conference in Warsaw on June 10, 2024.
The letter should be read on Sunday, June 16, 2024.
Comments