Interpretation Pro Life (abortion) in Christianity

Robert Carozza III – Mr. Ziaya – Theology 12 – 19 October 2018 – The Gospel of Life. Pope John Paul II’s encyclical, “The Gospel of Life” (Evangelium Vitae), was released on 25 March 1995 in Rome, Italy. The reason for this encyclical was because St. Pope John Paul II had recognized many unprecedented threats to human life, and recognized a growing culture of death. Another reason was to reiterate the view of the Catholic Church on their values of life and to warn people against violating the sanctity of life.

The encyclical is an urgent call to reach out to each and every person in the name of God. In the face of society’s devaluation of life, St. Pope John Paul II’s encyclical primarily focuses on the intrinsic value and dignity of every human life and their worthiness, even if unborn. The gospel of life is also an extension of Jesus Christ’s gospel message. St. Pope John Paul II stated that his reason for writing his encyclical stemmed from a meeting of bishops from around the globe that took place in 1991. The initial four parts of this encyclical discuss what the Catholic identifies as new threats and past threats to human life and dignity. Pope John Paul II first discussed the story of Cain and Abel, citing this story as an illustration of how a threat to human life, stemming from jealousy, has been present since ancient times.

Some common threats to human life include situations where human life is weak and defenseless, such as at the very beginning after conception, the zygote stage, and at its very end. These threats include abortion, euthanasia, and immoral experimentation on human embryos. Additionally, he stated that birth control and emergency contraceptive pills (Plan B) pose threats to human life. This is because life begins at conception, and these methods prevent life from manifesting.

People who support these threats typically bring forth a number of excuses for these heinous acts. These excuses include the idea that rights are based on individual freedom, the claim that these acts are legal, and the argument that they are performed to advance medical science. He also makes note of the fact that medical research is even trying to make abortion more accessible and widespread.

St. Pope John Paul II also mentions the death penalty, which has caused a huge debate for years. He says that it is a form of murder, always unjust no matter the situation. Another topic he touches upon is euthanasia, referring to it as a “grave violation of the law of God.” Just like murder, it’s a form of deliberately killing, which is intolerable to do to human beings according to the natural law, the Word of God, and the traditional teaching of the Catholic Church.

St. Pope John Paul II then discusses the culture of death, stating that it threatens both man and civilization. This threat is driven by the idea of freedom, which he sees as disconnected from any reference to truth and objective good, asserting itself in an unorthodox way.

St. John Paul II emphasizes that life is worthwhile, only if it’s productive and enjoyable. He believes suffering is considered useless, and sacrificing for others unjustified. In passage sixty-two, Pope John Paul II discusses abortion. He starts by agreeing with Pope Paul VI’s condemnation of abortion, viewing it as a direct act of killing humans. The first thing he says when addressing the topic of abortion is, “the Church is aware of the many factors which have influenced your decision.” He says this so women who have had abortions or are thinking of having one know he’s not targeting them and ignoring their views.

He reassures women who have had an abortion that the Church knows the decision was painful and shattering. Pope John Paul II advises women to forgive themselves for what they did by saying, “Certainly what happened was terrible and still remains terribly wrong. But do not lose hope and give into discouragement.” He encourages the women to analyze what happened, face the situation honestly, and trust in repentance. Pope John Paul II further comforts these women by saying the Father of Mercies is ready to give them His forgiveness and His peace within the sacrament of reconciliation.

One surprising statement he makes is, “You will come to understand that nothing is definitely lost, and you will also be able to ask forgiveness from your child, who is now living in the Lord (Gospel of Life passage sixty-two).” St. John Paul II focused on these threats to human life in his encyclical.

These threats to human life are saddening to hear and observe. Some may argue that threats to human life grow every day due to circumstances such as terrorism, murders, and even bullying. St. Pope John Paul II addresses these issues to remind us this is not what God planned for our world. While the Lord is forgiving, those who pose threats to human life should not perform these heinous acts.

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