The Joy Of Love (Amoris Laetitia): Some Initial
Thoughts
Dr Pravin Thevathasan
I am sure much will be said about this papal document in months
to come. Here are my first thoughts. The only things that are
magisterial in this document are those teachings that have been
consistently taught by the Church. Examples include teachings on
abortion, contraception and same sex relationships.
There have been no changes in doctrine for the simple reason
that not even the Pope can do this. Pastoral adaptations are
discussed and one may respectfully agree or disagree on these
pastoral matters. Pastoral adaptations may fail. Doctrines do not.
It isn’t a child?
It isn't a child,"
said the council, "No, it isn't a child," said the king,
"It's got two arms and it's got two legs, But it's really only
a thing.
"Its heart may appear to be beating, It
awakes with its mother at five It stirs to the sound of her
singing, But the thing isn't really alive."
Archbishops and agony aunties,
Embryologist joined in the song, "Remember our qualifications,
How dare you suggest we are wrong?"
"We all agree: we all agree," They
chanted out in time, "We've been to the court for a judgement:
To kill a thing isn't a crime."
"The professor of logic asserted, The
Assembly of nations, and all The Press, and the College of
Surgeons, "Besides, it's remarkably small.
"It's got no cash, it's got no vote,
It's hardly anything. If you'll just look away for a moment,
I promise it won't feel a thing."
And millions of people applauded The
millions of things torn apart, But Mary Saluted her cousin,
And pondered each thing in her heart.
David Poole, Q.C., Chairman, Association of Lawyers in
defence of the unborn, May 1989
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...Stop Press...Stop Press....
Pope Francis On Health Care Workers' Duty OfConscientious
in "Amoris Laetitia" (his exhortation on the family,
"The Joy of Love". Pope Francis strongly supported our duty to
conscientiously object. He said:
Here I feel it urgent to state that, if the family is the
sanctuary of life, the place where life is conceived and cared
for, it is a horrendous contradiction when it becomes a place
where life is rejected and destroyed. So great is the value of a
human life, and so inalienable the right to life of an innocent
child growing in the mother’s womb, that no alleged right to one’s
own body can justify a decision to terminate that life, which is
an end in itself and which can never be considered the “property”
of another human being. The family protects human life in all its
stages, including its last. Consequently, “those who work in
healthcare facilities are reminded of the moral duty of
conscientious objection. Similarly, the Church not only feels the
urgency to assert the right to a natural death, without aggressive
treatment and euthanasia”, but likewise “firmly rejects the death
penalty”.
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