THERE IS NO AUTHENTIC PEACE WITHOUT RESPECT FOR LIFE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 22, 2003 (VIS) - Today at midday in the Clementine Hall, John Paul II received members of the Italian Movement for Life which, for 25 years "since May 22, 1978 when abortion was made legal in Italy, has never ceased to work in the defense of human life, one of the central values of the civilization of love."

"May God help you to work incessantly," he said, "so that all people, believers and non-believers, understand that the protection of human life, starting at conception, is a necessary condition to build a future worthy of man."

After recalling the words of the venerable Mother Teresa of Calcutta, "Abortion is a practice that endangers peace in the world", the Pope emphasized that "there can be no authentic peace without respect for life, especially for the innocent and defenseless, as are the unborn. Basic coherence requires that those who seek peace defend life. No action for peace can be effective if attacks on life at every stage are not opposed with the same effort."

The Holy Father recalled that the Movement for Life is presently working so that Italian Parliament approves a law that respects the rights of unborn children "even if they are conceived with artificial methods which are not morally acceptable." In this sense, he expressed the desire that "the legislative process in course conclude quickly and take into account the principle that, between the desires of adults and the rights of children, all decisions must benefit the interests of the latter."
"Do not get discouraged and do not get tired of proclaiming and bearing witness to the Gospel of life; be close to families and mothers that find themselves in difficulty." Addressing women especially, the Pope renewed his invitation to "defend the alliance between women and life and to become promoters 'of a new feminism which rejects the temptation of imitating models of male domination in order to acknowledge and affirm the true genius of women in every aspect of the life of society, and overcome all discrimination, violence and exploitation'."

AC;...;...;MOVEMENT DEFENSE LIFE;VIS;20030522;Word: 350;