‘Bridges’ will not hold without truth
by Mons. Gianpaolo Crepaldi
Archbishop of Trieste
Translated from
December 16, 2017
On Thursday, December 14, the Italian Parliament approved the so-called DAT law which opens the way to euthanasia in a form that is even more emphatic than in other nations. During the months of discussion preceding the vote, I intervened, as bishop and as president of the Cardinal Van Thuan Observatory, along with others, such as the Centro Studi Rosario Livatino, in order to highlight the gravity of the contents of this law. Unfortunately, what prevailed was the libertarian and ultimately nihilistic ideology professed by so many members of Parliament. And so, Italy will proceed towards a dark future based on a ‘freedom’ that is extenuated and devoid of hope.
This law adds to others approved by this sad Parliament which has distanced our legislation on life and the family from the objective norms of natural moral law that are inscribed in the hearts of men, but which, too often, are obscured by big and small partisan interests and by the deformation of intelligence.
But those who have been most committed to dismantling via legislation the principles of the natural moral law – which, to the believer, is the language of the Creator – are not able to tell us how they will replace the effects of social cohesion achieved by having goals in common.
Freedom understood as self-determination, which this new law affirms and absolutizes, is unable to hold together anything, much less persons, nor can it even help the individual put himself together.
It is most concerning that in this Parliament, such negative laws can be approved in a context of remarkable indifference. I express my support for all those who mobilized with words, writings and other external manifestations in fighting for the human good.
But I must also note that many others should and could have done so. And this observation applies to the Catholic world especially. A wide swath of her components stayed away from defending values so fundamental for the dignity of individuals, fearful perhaps of creating walls instead of bridges by doing so. But bridges that are not built on the truth cannot hold.
At times like this, a sentiment of discouragement may prevail, and it is understandable. Everything in life comes at a price, and the terrible law that has been passed will produce suffering and injustice to the very flesh of persons. One has the impression that we must now commit ourselvesto reconstructing from scratch an alphabet that has been disarticulated.
At the same time, one must always remember that hstory is always open to new courses and solutions, as well as new possibilities for recovery and rescue. But humanly speaking, such recovery and rescue will not compensate for the injustices that have been provoked and experienced, but they will allow us not to conset to more of the same.
Let us not forget not just history, but also the Lord of all history. We trust in him so that we nay be ready to face new occasions which he will set before us.