Defending life in politics part of New Evangelization, Cardinal Burke states

Last updated on: June 15, 2013 at 3:25 pm by CNA Daily News

Defending life in politics part of New Evangelization, Cardinal Burke states 2013-06-15T15:25:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, Jun 15, 2013 / 09:25 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Participating in the political process in favor of human life is a part of the New Evangelization, Cardinal Raymond L. Burke said as he kicked-off a pro-life weekend at the Vatican.

“While the transformation of hearts is the most fundamental means of new evangelization regarding human life, Catholics and all persons of good will must be attentive to all laws, which safeguard the dignity of human life,” Cardinal Burke said June 15 at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome.

The morning of formation was part of a weekend dedicated to celebrating Pope John Paul II’s encyclical “Evangelium vitae.” It was attended by about 140 people, many of whom were from the United States.

Cardinal Burke, who runs the Church’s highest court, began his talk by focusing on how the Gospel of Life is intertwined with evangelizing and the Year of Faith, which the Church is currently celebrating.

When he came to the topic of the law and protecting life, Cardinal Burke mentioned Pope John Paul II’s statement from “Evangelium vitae” in which he said, “I repeat once more that a law which violates an innocent person's natural right to life is unjust and, as such, is not valid as a law.”

In this context, the cardinal underscored the “irreplaceable role which law plays in culture” and urged Catholic families to get involved in political life, saying, it “is essential to the cause of life.”

A second area for involvement that Cardinal Burke highlighted was the importance of “developing and supporting truly pro-life and pro-family media, and organizing public manifestations.”

“The culture of death advances in good part because of a lack of attention and information among the public,” he stated.

The importance of public demonstrations in favor of life was also recently endorsed by Pope Francis, the cardinal noted, when he sent a message to the second annual March for Life in Rome.

After Cardinal Burke’s remarks and a short break, the crowd heard from Professor Francis Beckwith of Baylor University and Robert Royal, president of the Faith and Reason Institute.

Professor Beckwith of Baylor University spent his time demonstrating how the arguments put forth in an article for the journal Ethics backing post-birth abortion actually showed there is a dormant understanding of the sanctity of life.

Panelist Robert Royal from the Faith and Reason Institute in Washington, D.C. said in his remarks that he believes the current culture requires Catholics to be active in proposing their faith but also in building “communities of protection” where the faith and virtue is taught.

The Evangelium vitae weekend continued after the talks with a Holy Hour at Santo Spirito in Sassia parish. Participants from all the language groups will take part in a candlelight procession down Via della Conciliazione, the street that leads to St. Peter’s Basilica, on the evening of June 15.

The events will finish with a June 16 morning Mass with Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square.

Vatican

Previous Post

June 15, 2013

Cardinals fill important 'Vatican bank' position

Next Post

June 15, 2013 President Obama chooses CRS president as Vatican ambassador

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, "Here am I, send me"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Jeremiah Elijah Ezekiel Isaiah