Msgr. Robert J. Batule: The Consistency of the Consistent Ethic of Life

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By Msgr. Robert J. Batule, The Catholic Thing, April 10, 2024

Msgr. Robert J. Batule, a priest of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, is the Pastor of Saint Margaret Parish in Selden, New York. He is a former Editor-in-Chief of the Catholic Social Science Review, and has a long history of essays, articles, and book reviews in the Catholic press

Note: Be sure to tune in tomorrow, Thursday, April 11th, at 8 PM Eastern to EWTN for a new episode of ‘The World Over.’ TCT Editor-in-Chief Robert Royal and contributor Fr. Gerald E. Murray will join host Raymond Arroyo to discuss the new Vatican ‘Declaration on Human Dignity,’ as well as other recent developments in the Church, Check your local listings for the channel in your area. Shows are usually available shortly after first airing on the EWTN YouTube channel.

 

In Evangelium Vitae (1995), Pope Saint John Paul II places contraception alongside of abortion, calling both of them “fruits of the same tree.” (13) The allusion to a tree takes us back to the Book of Genesis. There is an exchange there between the woman Eve and the serpent. The serpent asks the woman, “Did God really tell you not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?” (Genesis 3:1) Eve answers, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; it is only about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, You shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die.” (Genesis 3:2-3)

The forbidden fruit of Genesis is enough to tell us that we are dealing with sin. The Bible teaches us plainly that sin opposes God. That stricture ought to be sufficient for us to avoid what alienates us from God, but we don’t just live in our heads. Our desires overwhelm us at times, and we succumb to temptation. We give in to concupiscence. …

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