Posted on 01/04/2005 7:31:57 PM PST by Coleus
Abortion, Embryo Research and Divorce Need to Be Fought by All Christians Says Archbishop
Society is Immoral Because Christian Churches are Not Unified on Life and Family Issues
Australian Catholic Archbishop Barry Hickey has called on his Christian counterparts in Australia to come on side on issues of morality so that society may hear a united Christian voice on the myriad of moral dilemmas facing society. "A big part of society's problem has been the failure of Christian churches to speak with one voice on the crucial moral issues about human life," said the Archbishop in his New Year's message.
He noted, "This disunity creates confusion and undermines the credibility of the Churches."
The Archbishop warned that "Without objective moral principles, society is at sea on matters of life and death such as abortion, euthanasia, and the humanity of embryos, and is unable to overcome difficulties in personal relationships." Adding that, "These are matters on which people are entitled to expect proper guidance."
Admirably, Archbishop Hickey was forthright saying, "Christian Churches will only be united on these issues when they are faithful to the long biblical traditions about morality that they all once subscribed to."
His New Year's wish is that "all Christian Churches will make the search for unity on moral matters their priority in 2005."
See the full New Year's message from the Archbishop: http://www.perthcatholic.org.au/bjNewYear2005.pdf
West Australians have responded with their traditional generosity to the people of the Indian Ocean rim in their suffering.
Reaching out to people in difficulties is a great Australian tradition to be cherished.
In this New Year I want to draw attention to some areas in which we are not doing very well. They include the basic requirements of stable marriages and respect for human life at all its stages.
Male and female relationships are often trivialized in our society, leading to many short term de facto unions or unstable marriages. The effects are already noticeable in broken marriages, lonely and confused adults, and psychologically damaged children who are suffering from the loss of the love and security of family life.
For the future of our nation, I urge young men and women to respect the seriousness of close personal relationships.
I also have a New Year wish for all Christian Churches. A big part of society’s problem has been the failure of Christian Churches to speak with one voice on the crucial moral issues about human life.
This disunity creates confusion and undermines the credibility of the Churches. It also saps energy for evangelization. Christian Churches will only be united on these issues when they are faithful to the long biblical traditions about morality that they all once subscribed to.
Without objective moral principles, society is at sea on matters of life and death such as abortion, euthanasia, and the humanity of embryos, and is unable to overcome difficulties in personal relationships. These are matters on which people are entitled to expect proper guidance.
The lack of unity forces them to make choices without the benefit of objective moral principles.
It is my New Year wish that all Christian Churches will make the search for unity on moral matters their priority in 2005.
The Sin of Divorce
The Catechism on Divorce
Sure wish we had this bishop in the United States.
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"Sure wish we had this bishop in the United States."
The Aussies are just shaping up great all around. It's like there's Australia and U.S., everyone is is deteriorated and/or deteriorating.
and birth control, and in vitro fertilization...
Yup -US prelates catering to or cavorting with feminist and modernist factions rarely mention divorce -save stating it a pre tribunal requirement. The effects of divorce on family and society are ignored or glossed over for the most part -- interestingly, there are more homosexual 'pastoral' ministries and lay workers than marriage saving 'pastoral' counterparts?
I am not Catholic but fully support the author's positions on each of the three subjects.
Christians have become lax because it allows sin to flourish in their lives without guilt.
Unfortunately, this is sometimes the case with me, too.
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