VATICAN CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON LIFE AS FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLAS VATICAN 000052 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/EX JLARREA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: VT SUBJECT: VATICAN CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON LIFE AS FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT 1. The Vatican's Academy for Life gathered an international group of ethicists and theologians February 23-24 to debate various right-to-life and bioethical issues. Numerous Vatican Curial officials, religious personnel and lay people from all over the world, and Vatican-based media filled the overflowing conference hall. Addressing conference delegates during a private audience, Pope Benedict XVI stressed that the right to life must be supported by everyone because "it is fundamental with respect to other human rights." The pontiff then lashed out against interest in developed nations in immoral biotechnological research, "the obsessive search for the perfect child" through genetic selection, a renewed global push for abortion rights and same-sex marriage, which is "closed to natural procreation." 2. Among other topics, the conference dealt with the possibility of medical professionals exercising their right to be "conscientious objectors" should they be confronted with situations that challenged their ethical or religious principles. Below please find a partial program for the event; the Academy for Life has posted the papers on its web site (www.academiavita.org) under "General Assembly." 3. Begin conference program: Friday, February 23, 2007 - Greetings of the President of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Archbishop Elio Sgreccia - Prolusion: Some issues about the conscience in the teaching of John Paul II and Benedict XVI, Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, President of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Health Care - The moral conscience in ethics and the contemporary crisis of authority, Bishop Anthony Fisher (Australia) - The moral conscience and Christian innovation: elements for a theological reading, Prof. Brian Johnstone (Australia) - The moral conscience and human life, Prof. Robert P. George (USA) - Personal and social responsibility in the context of the defense of human life: the question of co-operation with evil, Prof. Luke Gormally (England) Saturday, February 24, 2007 - The history of conscientious objection and contemporary interpretations of the concept of tolerance, Monsignor Jean Laffitte (France) - Conscientious objection in the filed of international legislation, Prof. Gerard Memeteau (France) - Conscientious objection in relation to countries with a common law tradition, Prof. Carl Anderson (USA) - Conscientious objection and witness in medical-surgical practice, Prof. Patricio Ventura-Junca (Chile) - Conscientious objection and witness in the field of biomedical research, Prof. Monica Lopez Barahona (Spain) - Conscientious objection and specific professional categories (pharmacists, judges, administrators, consultants, etc.), Prof. Alicja Grezeskowiak (Poland) - The role of the Christian conscience in the promotion of life in developing countries, Cardinal Ivan Dias (India) End conference program. SANDROLINI