Cardinal Angelo Sodano addresses
Cardinal Fiorenzo Angelini
on the
occasion of two Congresses
WE FIGHT ATTACKS AGAINST LIFE
25-28 March 1992
On the occasion of the VII Congress of FEAMC
(European Federation of Catholic Medical Associations) and the XIX National
Congress of AMCI (Italian Catholic Medical Association), Cardinal Angelo
Sodano, Secretary of State, sent the following letter to the Cardinal Fiorenzo
Angelini.
Your Eminence Cardinal Fiorenzo
Angelini, the Holy Father, having been informed that, in your quality as
President of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care
Workers, you will inaugurate the VII Congress of the European Federation of
Catholic Medical Associations (FEAMC) and the XIX National Congress of the
Italian Catholic Medical Association (AMCI), entrusts you to convey his cordial
greeting, together with the wish for a fruitful discussion on the theme of the
Congress, to the participants in the event.
The subject chosen for the above-mentioned
meetings is extremely interesting, and confirms how the hoped-for progress of
humanity towards a new world order requires new commitments (Centesimus annus, 61), in relation to
which medicine has specific responsibilities.
In fact, the Declaration recently approved by the Synod of Bishops'
special Assembly for Europe states: The right to the preservation and, insofar
as it is possible, to the recovery of health must be sternly defended: the
attention of society as a whole and the pastoral concern of the Church must
address all those who suffer from the illnesses of our age. Therefore, all
health care workers must be trained in moral subjects and bioethics (Concluding
declaration of the Synod of 14 December 1991, n.10).
It is only through adequate training
that we will be able to efficiently fight attacks against life such as
abortion, sterilization, contraception, euthanasia and genetic manipulation.
Such attacks are dark evils that, in fact, betray the aims of any scientific
progress, putting science and technique at the service not of life, but of
death.
In this perspective, the Holy Father
points out that the world of medicine has today a threefold task: that of
establishing a growing cooperation at the national and international levels; that
of soundly and effectively coordinating research; that of providing a coherent
and concordant witness, upholding the inalienable values of the profession.
In the light of the imperatives
deriving from such tasks, it is necessary for international Catholic
organizations to open up to new horizons, showing deep concern for those
problems that involve whole areas of the world. Christian inspiration, which
characterizes these organizations, facilitates this process.
The Church, in fact, possesses
universality as its own dimension. The most serious common problems - such as
those related to life - require a common
answer, and this is favored by the brotherly solidarity and disinterested
generosity of those who adhere to evangelical principles, authoritatively
interpreted by the Magisterium of the Church.
In order to render their witness
incisive, the Medical Doctors who intend to openly profess their Christian
faith should try to become active in those cultural and scientific structures,
both national and international, which are responsible for health policies.
They should commit themselves so that all initiatives promoting the progress of
the culture of life be at the service of truth, contributing to affirm it and
defend it.
In order to accomplish this, His
Holiness recommends that, in their background and personal training, medical
doctors and the other Catholic health care workers distinguish themselves in
their rigorous adherence to the teaching of the Magisterium; in the exemplary
coherence between professed faith and practice of the medical science and art
in all its varied expressions; in cultural and spiritual openness to the
problems related to the respect of the person and of his intangible dignity.
In this light, intellectual
humility, which is the preliminary condition for true human and Christian
growth, is of fundamental importance. Such humility does not signify that we
abdicate the rights of intelligence, nor that its needs are mortified, but
rather it points to the ability to recognize the limits, in order to proceed
cautiously on the steep road leading to the discovery of all the aspects of
truth.
The Holy Father hopes that new
energies may come forth from the Venice Congresses, above all with reference to
the young generations of Medical Doctors called to gather, through their
Teachers' example and due ethical training, a legacy that is projected forward
towards the third millennium. The "new" evangelization which the
Church intends to promote, also in order to collaborate with a world order
based on truth, justice, solidarity and freedom, must find in the witness of
European Catholic Doctors its own precise and qualified expression.
His Holiness entrusts these vows to
the intercession of the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redeemer of man. May She,
who was exemplary in her docility before the Spirit's instructions, guide the
intellect and heart of Catholic doctors in their dedication to serving life,
from its conception to its natural decline.
With these sentiments the Holy
Father sends all the participants in the two important Congresses, with a
special thought to Your Eminence, His Apostolic Blessing.
Card.
Angelo Sodano
Secretary of State of His Holiness
(Translation by F.L.)