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| Dear Parishioners: The following is Part II from The Catholic Update, A Consistent Ethic of Life by Kenneth R. Overberg, S.J.: Sources of Life: Where does the consistent ethic of life come from? It comes largely from the insights of Cardinal Bernardin, the teachings of the U.S. Catholic bishops and, most recently and significantly, John Paul II’s encyclical The Gospel of Life. The ultimate source, however, is the Bible, especially the life and teaching of Jesus. Cardinal Bernardin spent much time and energy on two issues: abortion and nuclear war. He found committed people concerned about one issue but not the other. As he worked to bring together those seeking an end to abortion and those trying to prevent nuclear war, Cardinal Bernardin began to emphasize the common link among the life issues. This emphasis has been continued in the teachings of the U.S. bishops. Pope John Paul II’s encyclical The Gospel of Life is a bold and prophetic defense of life. Although it does not use the phrase, The Gospel of Life strongly affirms the consistent ethic of life. John Paul describes what is going on in our world today: a monumental abuse of life through drugs, war and arms, abortion, euthanasia, destruction of the environment, unjust distribution of resources. This abuse is often caused and supported by the economic, social and political structures of the nations. So the Pope speaks of a "structure of sin" and a "culture of death" and a "conspiracy against life". The Pope also proclaims the Christian understanding of the value of life. Created in God’s image, redeemed by Jesus, called to everlasting life, every human being is sacred and social; every human being is a sign of God’s love. In much more detail than Cardinal Bernardin’s addresses, the Pope provides the foundation for building a culture of life by weaving together a wealth of biblical texts which clearly proclaim human dignity. The consistent ethic of life is ultimately rooted in Jesus, in whom the meaning and value of life are definitively proclaimed and fully given. In John Paul II’s words, "The gospel of life is not simply a reflection, however new and profound, on human life. Nor is it merely a commandment aimed at raising awareness and bringing about significant changes in society. Still less is it an illusory promise of a better future. The gospel of life is something concrete and personal, for it consists in the proclamation of the very person of Jesus". Who is this Jesus? He is Jesus who was sensitive to the vulnerable at all stages and from every walk of life. In being so, he often was at odds with society’s standards, associating with religious and social outcasts. This is the Jesus of the Sermon on the Mount who proclaims as blessed not the leaders of society but the mourning and the meek, the poor and the pure, the persecuted and the peacemaker (Mt. 5:1-12). This is the Jesus who praises not power but reconciliation in the story about the forgiving father of the prodigal son (Lk 15:11-32). This is the Jesus of faithful ministry, of suffering and death, of new life (Mk 14:3-16:8). This is the Jesus who says, "I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly"’ (Jn 10:10). Who Jesus is and what Jesus means by abundant life, then, are surely different from what the consumerism and individualism of our culture tell us about life. Sincerely, |
