Bishop Aquila's Address on Absolutes in Life Issues

Zenit reprints the address of Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo at Loyola College in Baltimore, entitled "The Sanctity of Human Life from Conception to Natural Death" given on November, 15th. The presentation was part of the Loyola Alive Seamless Garment Series.

...As Catholics we believe in the dignity of human life. In the book of Genesis we hear how the Creator has created the human being in his image and likeness, male and female, he created them (Genesis 1:26ff.). God blessed the first couple and gave them a command to be fruitful and multiply. They are given the power to share in God's creation through their sexual intimacy.

Life is a gift freely bestowed by the Creator, a good that is to be received. Of all creatures that God has created, only human beings share in his image and likeness and are given the ability to know, receive and return the love of God. The dignity of human life is determined by God and thus is always to be protected.

The Catechism of the Catholic Chruch teaches: "Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains for ever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being" (No. 2258). This is the common thread that runs through all of the life issues.

The right to life is the essential right for every other human right. Benedict XVI on Sept. 7, 2007, reminded the authorities and diplomatic corps of Austria: "The fundamental human right, the presupposition of every other human right, is the right to life itself. This is true of life from the moment of conception to its natural end. Abortion, consequently, cannot be a human right -- it is the very opposite."

Please read the entire address which is linked here.