DEFEND LIFE, DO NOT BARGAIN WITH IT

VATICAN CITY, FEB 2, 2003 (VIS) - In reflections made before praying the noon Angelus today, the Holy Father reminded the faithful assembled below his study window in St. Peter's Square that today Italy celebrates the Day for Life. He also recalled that the Church is celebrating the feast of the Presentation of Our Lord as well as the Day of Consecrated life.

Focussing his remarks on the need to promote and protect human life, he noted that the theme of the Day for Life is "'One cannot bargain with life'. This principle, even if theoretically recognized, is unfortunately not always respected. There are situations in which the human person becomes an instrument for economic, political and scientific interests, above all when he or she is weak and does not have the strength to defend oneself.

"In addition," the Pope concluded, "a certain commercial logic, allying itself with modern technologies, can sometimes profit from human desires that are good in themselves, such as that of wanting to become a mother and father, to induce someone to have a child 'at all costs'. In reality, human life can never become an 'object': from conception to natural death, the human being is the subject of inviolable rights, that even freedom must not trespass. It is therefore indispensable that States, on such complex issues, pass organic and clear laws, founded on solid ethical bases and caring for the inestimable good of human life."

ANG;LIFE;...;...;VIS;20030203;Word: 250;