Pope debunks progressives' pretext for defying Church 'life' ethic

"In the second of his two addresses to the Swiss bishops on their 'ad limina' visit, Benedict XVI replied to what is, perhaps, the objection most commonly directed against the pope and the Church hierarchy by progressive Catholic circles," says Sandro Magister in "Either Peace or Life – Benedict XVI Debunks a False Dilemma" (www.chiesa, Roma, Nov. 16, 2006):

The objection is that, in the areas of life and the family, the Church’s hierarchy preaches truths defined as non-negotiable, pure, and solid, binding even in political decisions, while in the areas of peace, justice, and the protection of the environment, it waters down “Christian distinctiveness” and makes feeble statements, acquiescing to the temporal powers.

According to the progressive Catholic circles, the priority should be reversed. The Church should put in the first place the struggle for peace, justice, and the defense of nature, and should be more understanding toward modern “subjectivity” in the areas of life and the family.

In short, His Holiness rejects the dilemma as a false one, insisting that “it is only if human life is respected from conception to death that the ethics of peace is also possible and credible.”

Key passages from the Pope's address to the Swiss bishops on Nov. 9th and to the German bishop on the following day are included in Magister's post.