His Grace, Archbishop Henryk Hoser of Warszawa-Praga The Catholic bishops of Poland have been distinguishing themselves at the Synod of...
Archbishop Henryk Hoser's address to the Synod: Abortion and contraception are the greatest causes of the destruction of the family
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| His Grace, Archbishop Henryk Hoser of Warszawa-Praga |
The Catholic bishops of Poland have been distinguishing themselves at the Synod of the Family. Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki's address was a doctrinal rebuttal of those in favour of giving Holy Communion to the divorced and civily "remarried" - to adulterers. Archbishop Henryk Hoser's address given on Saturday October 10th, 2015 in the Synod aula focused on life issues: on abortion, contraception and the failure of the Instrumentum Laboris to adequately address theses issues, and to appreciate and use the magisterial teachings of Bl. Paul VI's Humanae Vitae.
(Toronto Catholic Witness provides a full translation of his address. If you re-publish, you must credit us)
Holy Father, Your Eminences, Your Excellencies,
One very important issue is only briefly mentioned in the Synod's Instrument Laboris,
yet the issue of fertility within marriage is a very complex reality
that is associated with human sexuality since the creation of the world.
Rightly the document underscored the need to "discover the message of
Humanae Vitae of Pope Paul VI" and "its wealth and wisdom", however, in
reality, there was no development of this subject. Published in 1968, it
was badly received, rejected and relativized by the clergy, and then
consequently by the faithful. This truly prophetic encyclical began the
post-conciliar crisis, which resulted in a systematic questioning of the
teaching Magisterium of the Church.
Yet
the encyclical came from an integral vision of the human person, the
person's spiritual and physical dimensions. It predicted the
consequences of the separation of sexuality and human fertility, which
today has become even more more radical, as a consequence of the
increasingly widespread use of contraception. We read: "the adoption of
measures and methods of artificial birth control to limit [...] open
wide the way for marital infidelity and a general lowering of moral
standards. [...] Another effect that gives cause for alarm is that a
man who grows accustomed to the use of contraceptive methods may forget
the reverence due to a woman, and, disregarding her physical and
emotional equilibrium, reduce her to being a mere instrument for the
satisfaction of his own desires, no longer considering her as his
partner whom he should surround with care and affection. Finally,
careful consideration should be given to the danger of this power
passing into the hands of those public authorities who care little for
the precepts of the moral law. [...] It would allow state authorities to
intervene in the most personal and intimate responsibility of the
spouses" (Humanae Vitae, 17). These predictions, unfortunately, in most cases came true.
Contraception
and the related issue of abortion have not been given sufficient
attention and highlighted enough. Meanwhile, it is one of the greatest
problems that destabilizes the unity of marriage and the family. Human
fertility - that gives reality to the person - is systematically abused
and destroyed, leading eventually to the breakdown of marriages. The
proper and important alternative is knowledge of fertility (fertility
awareness) and the ability to use it in accordance with the requirements
of responsible parenthood. The so-called international community spends
$ 8.1 billion USD on contraceptive programs in 69 of the least
developed nations. Yet in return, very few organizations promote the
so-called natural methods of discerning the fertility cycle. The African Federation of Family Action (Fédération Africaine de l'Action Familiale), the European Institute of Family Education (Institut
Europeen d'Education Familial) - survive thanks to the drops of
financial aid from a few benefactors who understand the matter, such as Aid to the Church in Need.
Pope
John Paul II left us pervading and true analysis of anthropological
differences, as well as the moral differences that exist between
contraception and the use of the fertility method. "In the light of the
experience of many couples and of the data provided by the different
human sciences, theological reflection is able to perceive and is called
to study further the difference, both anthropological and moral,
between contraception and recourse to the rhythm of the cycle: it is a
difference which is much wider and deeper than is usually thought, one
which involves in the final analysis two irreconcilable concepts of the
human person and of human sexuality. The choice of the natural rhythms
involves accepting the cycle of the person, that is the woman, and
thereby accepting dialogue, reciprocal respect, shared responsibility
and self- control. To accept the cycle and to enter into dialogue means
to recognize both the spiritual and corporal character of conjugal
communion and to live personal love with its requirement of fidelity. In
this context the couple comes to experience how conjugal communion is
enriched with those values of tenderness and affection which constitute
the inner soul of human sexuality, in its physical dimension also. In
this way sexuality is respected and promoted in its truly and fully
human dimension, and is never "used" as an "object" that, by breaking
the personal unity of soul and body, strikes at God's creation itself at
the level of the deepest interaction of nature and person". (Familiaris Consortio 32).
This
is a magisterial presentation that people of good will must seek to
understand. May wisdom accompany us always and everywhere!
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