Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Cordova (Fides Service) - “Life is worth living. Human life is sacred” is the title of a Pastoral letter issued by Bishops of the Corodova region of Argentina, on 29 September 2005, addressed to all men and women willing to discover and celebrate the gift of life in all its riches and to all men and women of good will. The document is signed by Archbishop Carlos Nanez of Cordova and the bishops of the suffragan dioceses: Bishop Felix Colomé of Cruz del Eje, Bishop Ramon Staffolani of Villa de la Concepcion del Rio Cuarto, Bishop Roberto Rodriguez of Villa Maria and Bishop Aurelio Kühn Prelate of Dean Funes.
In the thought of today materialism is dominant the Bishops write warning that this materialistic mentality “fails to recognise life as a value in itself” but considers it valuable only “to the extent in that it obtains fame, wealth or pleasure”. This is leading to a culture of death “which is a plot against life expressed with scorn and marginalisation of some people and deliberate elimination of others with abortion, euthanasia, murder”
The Bishops say they wish to “admire, celebrate and announce life” affirming that “the person is worth more than any human achievements and cannot be manipulated or replaced with any other good”. “The Church - the Bishops continue - teaches that we human beings, image of the living God, are valuable simply because we exist, not for what we produce or possess”. To believe in God means “to consider highly the human person, the value of life and human life in particular". The Bishop stress the absolute value of the life of grace which is communion with God and physical life “presupposition for all other goods and basis which facilitates its growth and manifestation” and therefore respected from conception to natural death, it must be cared for, served and protected
The Letter ends with the affirmation “live and let live, to respect, care for and cultivate life in every person, under every circumstance is a task which cannot be avoided not only because human life is so precious but also because of the eternal calling of every person”. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 5/10/2005, righe 25, parole 369)
