Secretary of Doctrinal Congregation Speaks on Modern Evils
VATICAN CITY, APRIL 24, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Abortion and euthanasia are examples of "terrorism with a human face," and, together with suicide bombers, are the scourge of contemporary society, says a Vatican official.
Archbishop Angelo Amato, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, made this statement on Monday during a talk on "The Problem of Evil: Philosophical and Theological Reflections."
His address formed part of the International Seminar for Catholic Civil Aviation Chaplains and Chaplaincy Members, taking place in Rome and sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers.
"Reading the daily papers -- or using Internet, TV or radio -- every day we see a perverse film about evil, which is 'filmed' in every part of the world with scenery and backdrops ever more cruel, as we see in the thousands of provocations of international terrorism," explained Archbishop Amato.
He continued: "Besides the abominable terrorism of suicide bombers, which is ever-present in the media, there is the so-called terrorism with a human face, which is also a daily occurrence and just as repugnant, which continues to be propagated by the media, manipulating traditional language with expressions that hide the tragic reality of the facts."
Word choice
As an example, the 68-year-old prelate mentioned that abortion is referred to as "the voluntary interruption of pregnancy" instead of "the killing of a defenseless human being." Euthanasia is defined merely as "death with dignity," he observed.
Archbishop Amato also mentioned the decisions of national legislatures that promote "laws contrary to the human being."
Evil today "is not only the action of single individuals or identifiable groups, but comes from dark centers, the laboratories of false opinions, from anonymous powers that hammer away at our minds with false messages, judging behavior in tune with the Gospels as ridiculous and out of date," he lamented.
"We cannot close the libraries of evil nor can we destroy its collection of videos that are reproduced like lethal viruses," noted Archbishop Amato. He explained that Christians can build themselves up "through the formation of a right conscience that searches for and loves the true and the good and avoids evil."
Code: ZE07042401
Date: 2007-04-24