Verified Document

Vatican Declaration The Vatican's Declaration Term Paper

According to the document, moral teaching enforces the internal human conscience, while government law enforces external behavior. These should then work together for the perpetuation of natural life. Beyond the document, the Church has also issued declarations in terms of other issues relating to sexual conduct, conception and marriage. According to the church, and also mentioned briefly in the Abortion Declaration, sexual conduct should occur only within marriage, and with sufficient responsibility in order to prevent unwanted pregnancy. The Vatican is very strongly against abortion merely because the child is an "inconvenience" as a result of premarital or irresponsible sexual conduct. In this, the Church concedes that modern society is not in great favor of big families, as the case was in the past. The Church therefore recommends that sex within marriage be conducted in such a way that the chances of unwanted pregnancy be minimized.

The Church is also against most forms of birth control. The issue is addressed by Robin Toner of the New York Times. Birth control, according to this argument, is the prevention of birth. As such, it prevents potential life and should not be allowed.

It is interesting to note that the Church also frowns upon human interference in creating fertility. Surrogate mothers and test tube fertilization are for example two issues against which the Church has recently expressed itself. This is another area where, according to the Church, humanity has no right to interfere. Life is sacred, but its conception should be allowed to take place naturally.

According to the Church, taking the power to create life is a dangerous attempt to replace God. Doing so would also grant the giver...

This threat to the basic family structure is also an issue that the Church uses to condemn the use of all forms of birth control and same-sex marriage.
In the Abortion Declaration, as well as in all their declarations regarding humanity, society and the right to life, the Vatican bases all its utterances on fundamental Bible doctrine. Its attempt, during the 1970s, to maintain the illegal status of abortion, rests upon this adherence to established Church and Bible teachings.

In their declarations and their attempts to sway legal issues to adhere to Bible doctrine, perhaps the Vatican is overlooking the fact that, whether for better or worse, society and its values are inevitably changing. With the advances of medical technology and the perpetuation of information, religious doctrine has become of increasingly diminished importance in the human mind. It has therefore become necessary to base arguments on viewpoints other than only religious. The Vatican attempts to do this with its references to medical and legal science.

Sources

Associated Press. "Vatican Condemns Contraception, Abortion, Same-Sex Marriage." Beliefnet, 2006. http://www.beliefnet.com/story/192/story_19263_1.html

Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. "Declaration on Procured Abortion." 18 Nov. 1974. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19741118_declaration-abortion_en.html

Instruction on Respect for Human Life in its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation Replies to Certain Questions of the Day. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19870222_respect-for-human-life_en.html

Toner, Robin. "The Vatican's Doctrine: Plitical Impact; Contrast to Abortion Issue is Discerned." New York Time, March 12, 1987. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9B0DEEDC173FF931A25750C0A961948260

Sources used in this document:
references to medical and legal science.

Sources

Associated Press. "Vatican Condemns Contraception, Abortion, Same-Sex Marriage." Beliefnet, 2006. http://www.beliefnet.com/story/192/story_19263_1.html

Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. "Declaration on Procured Abortion." 18 Nov. 1974. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19741118_declaration-abortion_en.html

Instruction on Respect for Human Life in its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation Replies to Certain Questions of the Day. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19870222_respect-for-human-life_en.html
Toner, Robin. "The Vatican's Doctrine: Plitical Impact; Contrast to Abortion Issue is Discerned." New York Time, March 12, 1987. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9B0DEEDC173FF931A25750C0A961948260
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Vatican II a Survey of
Words: 4728 Length: 15 Document Type: Research Paper

Of course, such hurried indifference was seen within the Council from start to finish. The primary order of business was to set the sequence of schemas to be discussed. Complementary to this business was the matter of choosing bishops and periti to sit on commissions for the drafting of schemas. Though the proposed schemas had already been drafted, the liberal element was able to persuade John XXIII to abandon them since

Vatican Council II 1962-1965
Words: 2540 Length: 8 Document Type: Term Paper

Vatican Council II (1962-1965). Seven Sources. Vatican Council II (1962-1965) In the forty years since the completion of the Vatican Council II, the controversy has yet to cease. There is still passionate debate between church conservatives, who feel the council went too far, and liberals, who feel church politics has prevented the original vision from becoming a reality. One side feels that the council was inspired by the devil, while the

Second Vatican Council and the
Words: 1257 Length: 4 Document Type: Research Paper

As the chaplain gives communion, this is a position that cannot yet be held by a woman in the Catholic Church. A Eucharistic minister in the Roman Catholic Church must be a priest, therefore it is a position that must be occupied by a male. In other churches, the Eucharistic Minister refers to the person who assists the priest and is licensed to administer both the bread and the wine

History of Christian Anti-Semitism -
Words: 2393 Length: 7 Document Type: Term Paper

At this point in the declaration, the sentiments of the church become very expressive -- "The Church... cannot forget that she received the revelation of the Old Testament through the people with whom God... concluded the Ancient Covenant;" thus, "most of the early disciples who proclaimed Christ's gospel to the world, sprang from the Jewish people." This declaration then concludes by focusing on the status of the Jewish people in

Ecumenical Council Agenda for the
Words: 950 Length: 2 Document Type: Essay

Their template deals with subjects such as what women found satisfying and frustrating about work. Also the committee heard show do they balance home and work responsibilities and fit in volunteer activities, how do they find time for spiritual activities. In addition, how does the spirituality affect work and vice versa (Bishop's Committee on Women in Society and in the Church). With regard to birth control, more a more liberally

Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Pell 2005 , Admits,
Words: 1405 Length: 4 Document Type: Essay

Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Pell (2005), admits, "the teaching of religion has become more difficult through the past decades," (p. 4). Because of the various impediments and challenges to maintaining a religious foundation, educators and administrators are working extra hard to deliver a quality curriculum that infuses the young mind with spirituality and devotion to God. The goals of a religious education are clearly outlined by the Archdiocese of

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now