Posted on 12/28/2005 8:12:54 AM PST by LibWhacker
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - God sees embryos as "full and complete" humans, Pope Benedict said on Wednesday in an address that firmly underlined the Roman Catholic Church's stance against abortion and scientific research on embryos.
"The loving eyes of God look on the human being, considered full and complete at its beginning," Benedict said in his weekly address to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.
Quoting Psalm 139, Benedict said the Bible teaches that God already recognises the embryo as a complete human. That view is the basis for the Church teaching that aborting or manipulating these embryos amounts to murder.
In Psalm 139, the psalmist says to God: "Thou didst see my limbs unformed in the womb, and in thy book they are all recorded."
"It is extremely powerful, the idea in this psalm, that in this 'unformed' embryo God already sees the whole future," Benedict said.
"In the Lord's book of life, the days that this creature will live and will fill with works during his time on earth are already written."
Benedict has already weighed into an Italian debate on abortion ahead of a general election in April, publicly supporting a pro-life group that right-wing Health Minister Francesco Storace wants to have access to counselling centres advising women seeking to terminate pregnancy.
The Pontiff also raised the theme in his Christmas Eve mass on Saturday, saying the love of God shines on each child, "even on those still unborn".
As well as being against abortion in all cases, the Church opposes stem-cell research which extracts useful cells from unused embryos left over from fertility treatments.
The United States Congress is debating whether to expand federal funding for this kind of research, which scientists say could provide cures to many debilitating diseases.
So this Pope has talked to God?
ping
apparently he has read scripture.
What genetic makeup does a fetus have?
Is it 100% genetically identical with the mother? If not, it is a unique individual.
I sure hope so! I talk to God all the time! Sometimes, he talks back to me. It's called prayer.
And all the Pope did was state the obvious from the Psalm cited.
"So this Pope has talked to God?"
In ways we cannot comprehend.
Headline is a little misleading.....
Who do *you* talk to?
Read the article, it does not say anything about the Pope talking to God. He is interpreting a passage from Psalms.
By the way, what's wrong with talking to God? I do it every day
Good for him.
God bless the Pope........
Well now, that should settle the Roe V Wade issue. Next!
Good on him!
Scripture quoting Pope! Praise God!
Why is it that every time a pope says something blindingly obvious it makes the headlines, and when it's said by others the media ignores or vilifies them?
examples from a quick Drudge search:
Pope says Loving Eyes of God Sees Embryos as Full and Complete Humans...
Unite against terror, Pope says in Christmas speech...
POPE: REMEMBER THE UNBORN...
Pope says French riots were 'message' from youth...
Pope says materialism pollutes Christmas spirit
Pope Says a Virtuous Life Is Not 'Boring'...
Great response. :)
It has an air of honesty, and thus divulges the fundamental aspect of life that many people, who lack God in their lives, must deal with.
Have a nice day.
If anybody does, the Pope does, but the Pope also knows anthropomorphizationalism when he sees it and uses it.
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