The sanctity of life
The main roots of the moral controversy on abortion (the murder of God’s children) and contraception (obstruction of God’s will) among Catholics and other Christians, is when exactly such a sacred life creation process begins and ends, with a human person created in God’s image and likeness, together with an immortal soul infused by God deliberately in order to create a singularly unique person even before birth.
In 1968, Humanae Vitae of Pope Paul VI triggered that controversy into erupting with stunning ferocity among Catholic theologians. The world’s media prominently featured them as “heroes.” Imitating their Western colleagues, 11 of the top 12 local Jesuits formally voted not to support Humanae Vitae. Only the late and beloved James B. Reuter, SJ, my Papa Bear, voted to support the papal edict!
And yet in 1930 Casti Connubii of Pope Pius XI had already established the landmark Catholic magisterial teaching. Casti Connubii was also what the Jesuits dutifully taught us at Ateneo—i.e., that abortion was murder and its harbinger, artificial contraception, was an intrinsic evil! Pope John Paul II reaffirmed these in Evangelium Vitae—i.e., “Over and above all (so-called) scientific and philosophical affirmations, the Church has always taught that the human being is to be respected and treated as a person from the moment of conception” (EV 60).
Recently, however, a top Jesuit priest-lawyer, together with prominent Ateneo alumni who are now powerful government executives, legislators, or media people, have premised their opinions in favor of the Reproductive Health Law mainly on the alleged primacy of one’s conscience, thus claiming as medieval anachronism the virtue of sexual chastity, and vilifying our Catholic bishops who have been in unity with papal teachings by opposing RH, as “cruel fundamentalists.”
Admittedly, it is correct to say that one’s alleged conscience, no matter how misinformed, twisted or dishonestly misrepresented, if claimed as the basis for one’s actions, must be respected, unless the latter are proscribed by law. Afterward, however, under the laws of any country, such allegations are never a valid defense per se against any future charges of wrongful acts under the law. To be sure, try saying to our judges, “Your Honor, my conscience told me I did nothing wrong!” Otherwise, it will result in either legal chaos or moral relativism, and anarchy to boot! Yet we still have to respect those we disagree with on the basis of divergent conscience-led decisions.
And so quite providentially, we have received copies of hundreds of messages which we believe to have divinely originated and coursed through a lay European visionary named Maria Divine Mercy. Typical and also relevant to the RH Law are many of the latest messages obtained from <www.thewarningsecondcoming.com> or <www.catholicxybr.org>, excerpts of which are:
God the Father: The time for great change, for the good of all, is upon you (Dec. 20, 2012). x x x “As your Father, I bless you all and bestow, with a deep compassion, this great Gift of Mercy. I gather you, all of My Creation, so that I can cleanse you of every doubt, every sin and every blasphemy against the Laws of My Kingdom. x x x Your suffering, by the hands of corrupt governments, who do not accept My Laws, will be difficult but will not last too long. The time for great change, for the good of all, is upon you. My power will be shown in all its strength and glory for the world to witness. x x x”.
From Jesus Christ: The family unit, and the destruction of it, will be at the root of everything (Dec. 23, 2012). x x x “Those who uphold My Holy Word, given to man through the Gift of the Holy Bible, will be challenged and urged to accept amendments. x x x They will urge those holy sacred servants of Mine, to accept tolerance of sin. They will be told that God is an ever-merciful God and that He loves everyone. Yes, this part is true. But then, they will be instructed to condone laws, which are an abomination in My Eyes. The family unit, and the destruction of it, will be at the root of everything.
x x x If you are presented with anything, which seems to be in contradiction of My teachings, then you must turn your back.”
From Jesus Christ: Knowledge can very often blind you to the Truth (Dec. 28, 2012). x x x “To those of you who proudly proclaim your twisted interpretation of My Holy Word to be false, given to you through these Messages, I have this to say. When did you last come before Me naked? Without the screen of pride shielding you? When did you come before Me, on your knees, calling Me to truly guide you, without you first putting your hands over your ears by refusing to listen? Don’t you know that I will only enlighten you with the Gift of discernment when you come before Me without any preconceived views of your own? You cannot be freed from the chains of intellectual pride, which blinds you to the truth of spiritual knowledge, until you are stripped of all human pride. x x x Love for Me, your Jesus, comes from the heart. Souls worthy of My Kingdom recognize My Voice quickly. Souls who defy My Word and encourage others to outwardly reject Me are influenced by the spirit of evil. You disgust Me. Your vile voices, where you shout out and proudly declare your worthiness, based on your knowledge of Holy Scripture, will be silenced.”
From Jesus Christ: Never fear Me for I come in peace (Dec. 29, 2012). x x x “My Love for humanity is so great that I forgive easily, any sin, no matter how offensive, once true remorse is shown by the sinner. Never fear Me if you truly love Me because I protect you at all times. Yes, you will suffer in My Name, when you walk behind Me. x x x It is such a small price to pay for the Glory, which lies ahead of you.”
I firmly believe that these messages are authentic. They are consistent with and in full confirmation of previous messages given: a) by Our Lady at Fatima; b) to Fr. Stefano Gobbi of the Marian Movement of Priests (To the Priests, Our Lady’s Beloved Sons); c) by Our Lord Jesus as Divine Mercy Himself through Sister Faustina; and d) through Anne, the Lay Apostle of Ireland, Julia Kim of Naju in Korea, Vassula Ryden of Switzerland, and in Lipa, Garabandal, Medjugorge and other places.
They all contain the same request from Heaven for prayers, sacrifice and sufferings to be offered by believers specifically for the redemption of those who do not yet believe, especially for those in the state of mortal sin and obstinate pride.
Eduardo B. Olaguer is vice president and cofounder of the Catholic Xybrspace Apostolate of the Philippines.
