The Gospel Of Life
(Pope John Paul II)
The Gospel of Life is the English translation of Evangelium Vitae, an encyclical issued on March 25, 1995, by Pope John Paul II and addressed not only to Catholic bishops but to all faithful Catholics and to all benevolent persons. In this work of nearly two hundred pages, the pope copiously cites Scripture and Vatican documents to present what the Church sees as the dangers to human Life at the end of the twentieth Christian century and the good news that comes from God?s love, as shown in Jesus? suffering, death, and resurrection. Because God gives life, it is holy and not to be taken away through an illicit notion of individual freedom. Induced abortion is gravely sinful, taking the life of a defenseless human being?an unborn child. Similarly, euthanasia is gravely sinful, taking away the God-given life of an aged, terminally ill, or badly injured person. Although the relief of suffering is praiseworthy in itself, it is insufficient justification for euthanasia, because suffering is a part of human life in this world, which is not the only one in God?s loving plan. Human sexual intercourse should come only within loving marriage; and, refraining from unnatural contraception, which violates God?s will, parents should consider their children gifts from God and raise them according to the divine plan of love, which dictates that the greater a person?s need is, the more care he or she should receive.Governmental officials should work in conformity with the Gospel of Life, which, says the pope, will lead somehow to a sharing of wealth nationally and internationally so that couples can more easily make the right choices about procreation and avoid sterilization, artificial contraception, and deliberate abortion. Real freedom depends on truth and on respect for life. Mary, Jesus? mother, is the exemplar of a human being who accepted God?s plan for life. At the end of the encyclical, the pope prays to her that all Christians may spread the good news of life.
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