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Skriven 2005-12-08 07:03:48 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Press Release
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                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                               VIS-Press releases

HUMAN RIGHTS ARE UNIVERSAL AND INVIOLABLE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 1, 2005 (VIS) - This morning, the Holy Father received
members of the International Theological Commission, led for the first time by
Archbishop William Joseph Levada who, as prefect of the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith, is also president of the commission.

In his address, the Holy Father referred to the subjects under discussion in
the plenary session, such as the theme of children who die without receiving
Baptism, in the context of God's universal plan of salvation, the uniqueness of
Christ's mediation and the sacramental nature of the Church, and the theme of
natural moral law. This latter subject, he said, "is particularly important for
understanding the foundation of those rights that are rooted in the nature of
the person and that, as such, derive from the will of God the Creator Himself."

He went on: "Prior to any positive law emanated by States, such rights are
universal, inviolable and inalienable, and must be recognized as such by
everyone, especially by the civil authorities who are called to promote them
and guarantee that they are respected. Although in modern culture, the concept
of 'human nature' seems to have been lost, the fact remains that human rights
cannot be understood without presupposing that man, in his very being, is the
bearer of values and norms that must be rediscovered and reaffirmed, not
invented and imposed in a subjective and arbitrary manner."

At this point, said Benedict XVI, "dialogue with the world of the laity is very
important. It must be made very clear that negating an ontological foundation
of the essential values of human life, inevitably leads to positivism and makes
law dependent on the trends of thought dominant in a society; thus rendering
law an instrument of power, rather than subordinating power to the law."

The Holy Father then remarked on the importance of the "statute" and methods of
Catholic theology. On this subject, he highlighted the fact that "the
theologian's work must be carried out in communion with, and under the
authority of, the living Magisterium of the Church. To consider theology as a
private concern of the theologian is to misunderstand its very nature. Only
within the ecclesial community, in communion with the legitimate pastors of the
Church does theological work have meaning. Such work certainly calls for
scientific competence, but also and above all for the spirit of faith and
humility of one who knows that the real and living God, subject of his
reflections, infinitely surpasses human capacities."

"At this point it may be asked," said the Pope: "Is theology thus defined still
a science that conforms to our reason? Yes. Reason, science, and thinking in
communion with the Church are not only not mutually exclusive, but complement
one another. The Holy Spirit introduces the Church to the fullness of truth,
the Church is at the service of truth and guides people by educating in truth."
AC/NATURAL MORAL LAW/LEVADA VIS 051201 (500)

SUMMARY

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