Morality Offers Solutions without impeding progress, says Pope

By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christian moral values do not infringe upon freedom and scientific research; rather they offer honest, concrete answers to biomedical questions facing the world today, Pope Benedict XVI said.

In today's secularized world, many people consider religion to be a series of "prejudices that reject any objective understanding of reality" and that hinder freedom and scientific progress, he said in a speech Jan. 15 to members of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, who were having their plenary meeting at the Vatican.

The common mentality today, however, "tends to substitute truth with consensus, which is fragile and easily manipulated," he said.

"The Christian faith instead offers a contribution of truth even in the field of ethical philosophy, without offering prefabricated solutions to concrete problems, like in biomedical research and experimentation, but by proposing reliable moral positions from which human reason can seek and find valid answers," the pope said.

The pope dedicated a significant portion of his address to the importance of the Vatican document "Dignitas Personae" ("The Dignity of a Person") of 2008, which highlighted how scientific progress should be guided by the concern to defend the sacred nature of human life. The document presented teachings -- and in many cases moral prohibitions -- in areas such as stem-cell research, human cloning, gene therapy and embryo experimentation.

Pope Benedict said the document is part of the church's contribution to forming the consciences of all people, not just Christians.

The document, like all church teachings, is helpful to all people who "seek the truth and intend to listen to assertions that stem from faith and also from reason," he said.

The church bases its pronouncements on natural moral law, which is not something exclusive to religious belief, he said.

"Founded upon human nature itself and accessible to every rational being, natural moral law is the foundation for entering into dialogue with all people who seek the truth and, more generally, with civil and secular society," he said.

Natural law is inscribed on the hearts of all people and is fundamental in any reflection on rights and responsibilities in civil society, he said. Natural moral law also beckons a conscientious response from all people, including lawmakers, he added.

In his talk, the pope also praised the congregation's work with leaders of the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X and said he hoped that "the doctrinal problems that still remain in reaching full communion may be overcome."

He said he was pleased with the congregation's efforts in promoting "the full integration of faith communities and individuals who belonged to the Anglican Communion into the life of the Catholic Church." He was referring to an apostolic constitution, which established "personal ordinariates" -- structures similar to dioceses -- for Anglicans who want to enter full communion with the Roman Catholic Church while maintaining some of their Anglican heritage.

Pope Benedict underlined that the proposal "is in no way in opposition to the ecumenical movement, but shows rather, (the church's) ultimate goal of reaching the full and visible communion of the disciples of the Lord."

He said his role as bishop of Rome is to "constantly proclaim 'Dominus Iesus' -- Jesus is the Lord."

The teaching authority of the pope includes promoting "obedience to the faith so that the truth that is Christ may continue to radiate in its glory and resonate in its integrity and purity in all people so that there may be one flock, gathered round one shepherd," he said.


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