Safeguarding human life requires broader pastoral approach, Vatican says

Titled Life is always a good. Initiating Processes for a Pastoral Care of Human Life, the 40-page framework was published by the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life. The Dicastery issued a statement on March 24, the eve of the 30th anniversary of St John Paul II’s encyclical letter Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life).

The aim of the framework is to help Catholics defend, safeguard and promote all human life worldwide and in different cultural contexts at a time that is “marked by extremely serious violations of human dignity”.

Dicastery Prefect Cardinal Kevin Farrell wrote in the preface that the principle that every person’s life should always be respected, safeguarded and defended is evident in Church teaching and is recognisable by reason. But, he said, that must be “implemented in every country, village and household” with special emphasis on helping young people understand and welcome the value of life.

He conceded that the framework does not provide local churches “with preset and ready-to-use ‘recipes’. Instead, it offers ways to initiate ‘processes’” that involve the entire body of the Catholic Church, reflective of the synodal process begun in 2021.

The Church must build and tap into its “ecclesial intelligence”, where all members – active and aware of the reality on the ground – come together as disciples, not to have “a project”, but to respond to a call, like the Good Samaritan coming to the aid of a person in need.

“In many countries, attention to life issues is kept high by pro-life movements, but many of them mainly focus on civil and political action,” the framework stated.

“Pastoral care is an ecclesial action of the Christian community, lay people and pastors together, which cannot be delegated and is called to address every situation in which human dignity is threatened, without confining itself to specific areas,” it said.

There is also a need to “look beyond beginning and end-of-life issues, which still remain a priority”, and include other serious violations of human life, it said.

Bishop Dario Gervasi, adjunct secretary of the Dicastery, said in a press release that the framework came out of an ongoing dialogue with the world’s bishops.

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Pro-life movement needs new approach, driven by all the faithful, dicastery says (By Carol Glatz/CNS)