Pope Benedict:the Church Defends Dignity of Man, Not Own Interests, Vatican Radio, November 7, 2011

Pope Benedict:the Church Defends Dignity of Man, Not Own Interests

Vatican Radio
November 7, 2011

http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=535614

[with audio]

"The Church does not defend its own interests, but the dignity of man", said Pope Benedict XVI on Monday as he received the Letters of Credence from the new ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Holy See, Reinhard Schweppe.

In his message the Holy Father recalled his recent visit to his native land and offered a reflection on the contribution that Christianity can give to a pluralistic society such as Germany. The Pope said people are "seeking the truth" and that therefore, Christians are called to bear witness to the truth in their personal, family and community life.

In particular the Churches' duty is to "defend the dignity of man" when "is put at risk". Today he noted "the fundamental values of human existence" are once again being called into question again.

"Only a society that unconditionally respects and defends the dignity of every person, from conception to natural death – said Pope Benedict - can be called a humane society". If, however, society decides to "select its members most in need of protection" it "would be behaving in a profoundly inhumane manner". Moreover added the Pope, such a society would no longer be credible from the perspective of the equality of dignity of all people in every stage of life, evident to every person of good will. "

Lesser still, he continued, do we have the right " to manipulate man" or, so to speak, to 'construct' man: "If the Holy See expresses itself on legislation regarding the fundamental human questions, it does so not to impose faith on others, but to defend those values evident to all, even if various forms of interests seem to obscure this evidence in many ways."

The Pope then focused on "materialistic and hedonistic tendencies" increasingly finding space in Western countries, tendencies which often lead to the discrimination and exploitation of women. Every person, man or woman, he warned, "has the same dignity" and if this is not taken into account it "represents a serious failure for humanity."

Pope Benedict was particularly critical of the wide accessibility of pornography, especially via the Internet. He guaranteed the Holy See's commitment to ensuring that the Catholic Church in Germany contrast this "form of abuse" in a "more clear and decisive manner".