By Michael W. Chapman, CNSNews, November 10, 2017
Photo: Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki, president of the Polish Bishops’ Conference. (Rorate Caeli)
The Polish Bishops’ Conference released a letter this week that denounces the evil of abortion and calls on Polish citizens to support a citizens’ legislative initiative — “Stop Abortion” — which would completely ban abortion under all circumstances except when the mother’s life is in danger.
Currently, abortion is allowed in Poland in the cases of rape or incest, if the baby has severe disabilities, or if the mother’s life is at risk.
As first reported by Life Site News, the Polish Bishops’ Conference, headed by Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki, said in its letter that “the right to life is a fundamental right of every human being,” and “[e]very child has the right to live, even the sick child.”
(Screenshot YouTube)
“The fact that from the moment of conception there is already a human being in existence — although only in the embryonic stage — is indisputable according to modern science,” said the bishops.
The letter also quotes Pope St. John Paul II from his encyclical Evangelium Vitae, which states, “The deliberate decision to deprive an innocent human being of his life is always morally evil…. It is in fact a grave act of disobedience to the moral law, and indeed to God himself, the author and guarantor of that law; it contradicts the fundamental virtues of justice and charity.
“Nothing and no one can in any way permit the killing of an innocent human being, whether a foetus or an embryo, an infant or an adult, an old person, or one suffering from an incurable disease, or a person who is dying.”
The bishops’ letter then “encourages everyone to support the citizens’ legislative initiative ‘Zatryzmaj aborcje’ (‘Stop Abortion’) which is aimed at greater protection for the life of the unborn child. This is an importatn step towards the protection of all life from the moment of conception to natural death.”
The bishops also call on parents, when faced with a difficult life situation, to not choose abortion but give their child up for adoption, as there are many families in Poland “ready to take them into their care with open hearts.”
“Killing children should never take place,” say the bishops. “Instead of Abortion — Adoption!”
(Screenshot YouTube)
The complete letter from the Polish Bishops’ Conference is printed below:
Appeal of the Presidium of the Polish Bishops’ Conference on the protection of the right to life from the moment of conception to natural death.
The right to life is a fundamental right of every human being. Every child has the right to live, even the sick child. We must especially protect the right [to life] of a defenseless child living below the heart of its mother, just as we protect the life of a child after its birth. The fact that from the moment of conception there is already a human being in existence – although only in the embryonic stage – is indisputable according to modern science. Protecting the lives of unborn children is not only a question of religion or belief, but is one of the most fundamental duties of every human being.
Saint John Paul II found no justification for killing children. In the Encyclical Evangelium Vitae he affirmed: “The deliberate decision to deprive an innocent human being of his life is always morally evil and can never be licit either as an end in itself or as a means to a good end. It is in fact a grave act of disobedience to the moral law, and indeed to God himself, the author and guarantor of that law; it contradicts the fundamental virtues of justice and charity. “Nothing and no one can in any way permit the killing of an innocent human being, whether a fetus or an embryo, an infant or an adult, an old person, or one suffering from an incurable disease, or a person who is dying. Furthermore, no one is permitted to ask for this act of killing, either for himself or herself or for another person entrusted to his or her care, nor can he or she consent to it, either explicitly or implicitly. Nor can any authority legitimately recommend or permit such an action.” (Evangelium Vitae, 57).
In connection with this, the Presidium of the Polish Bishops’ Conference encourages everyone to support the citizens’ legislative initiative “Zatrzymaj aborcję” (“Stop Abortion”) which is aimed at greater protection for the life of the unborn child (www.zatrzymajaborcje.pl). This is an important step towards the protection of all life from the moment of conception to natural death. In a few days, the time for collecting signatures will end, so once again we encourage you to support this initiative. Signed cards should be sent to the organisers [by 21st November] so that they can reach [the Polish] Parliament by the end of November.
The Catholic Church in Poland constantly supports families in difficult life situations. If parents – despite psychological, medical and material support – decide not to bring up a child, they can always [give] the child up for adoption, especially when so many families are ready to take them into their care with open hearts.
Pope St. John Paul II (1920 -2005)
