Zenit News
The full text of Cardinal O'Brien's homily follows:
- 11-06-2008
- Categorized in: News Releases
VISIT OF CARDINAL O'BRIEN TO HOUSE OF COMMONS
MASS IN CRYPT OF HOUSE OF COMMONS
WEDNESDAY 4 JUNE 2008
Introduction:
My visit this week to the Houses of Parliament comes at a time of uncertainty, a time of great moral challenges and a time of confusion over the most basic questions about our society and the values we hold dear.
I simply read out to you as an indication of the truth of what I have said some headlines which have confronted me over the past few days: 'A deadly week for the unborn'; 'Outrage over Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill's vote'; 'Faithful urged to fight on after HFE Vote'; and 'State is Immoral for failing to protect the unborn'.
Further, just a few days after that vote in the House of Commons, a headline in one of Scotland's national papers read: 'Abortions in Scotland soar to record high with 38 performed every day', while the article goes on to say that there were 13,703 abortions carried out last year in Scotland, compared to 13,163 the previous year.
Rightly therefore can I say that it is indeed 'a time of uncertainty, a time of great moral challenges and a time of confusion over the most basic questions about our society and the values we hold dear'.
Role of Conscience and its intrinsic link to truth:
I have spoken before in this esteemed location about the role of conscience and its intrinsic link to truth. In our first reading today St Paul affirms the value of a clear conscience. He writes to his disciple Timothy: "Night and day I thank God, keeping my conscience clear and remembering my duty to him as my ancestors did, and always I remember you in my prayers". Since the votes at the Committee stage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, I have pondered the situation in which our society finds itself in regard to the value and strength of conscience as a guide for the moral life.
The Church is a signpost for conscience not just of those who adhere to the Catholic faith but to all peoples. The Christian message is a gift with which we have been entrusted, it is a message not of our own devising. Rather, to us falls the grave duty of preserving Christian memory, of handing on the teachings of Christ * but handing them on not merely as a list of prohibitions and rules. To do this would present a jaundiced and mistaken view of the gospel. The message of the Church is one promoting the fullness of life and presenting for all people the truth of how we find fulfilment in this life and the next. We must be presenting in our lives and in our teaching something of the joy of the vocation of Christian living.
MASS IN CRYPT OF HOUSE OF COMMONS
WEDNESDAY 4 JUNE 2008
Introduction:
My visit this week to the Houses of Parliament comes at a time of uncertainty, a time of great moral challenges and a time of confusion over the most basic questions about our society and the values we hold dear.
I simply read out to you as an indication of the truth of what I have said some headlines which have confronted me over the past few days: 'A deadly week for the unborn'; 'Outrage over Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill's vote'; 'Faithful urged to fight on after HFE Vote'; and 'State is Immoral for failing to protect the unborn'.
Further, just a few days after that vote in the House of Commons, a headline in one of Scotland's national papers read: 'Abortions in Scotland soar to record high with 38 performed every day', while the article goes on to say that there were 13,703 abortions carried out last year in Scotland, compared to 13,163 the previous year.
Rightly therefore can I say that it is indeed 'a time of uncertainty, a time of great moral challenges and a time of confusion over the most basic questions about our society and the values we hold dear'.
Role of Conscience and its intrinsic link to truth:
I have spoken before in this esteemed location about the role of conscience and its intrinsic link to truth. In our first reading today St Paul affirms the value of a clear conscience. He writes to his disciple Timothy: "Night and day I thank God, keeping my conscience clear and remembering my duty to him as my ancestors did, and always I remember you in my prayers". Since the votes at the Committee stage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, I have pondered the situation in which our society finds itself in regard to the value and strength of conscience as a guide for the moral life.
The Church is a signpost for conscience not just of those who adhere to the Catholic faith but to all peoples. The Christian message is a gift with which we have been entrusted, it is a message not of our own devising. Rather, to us falls the grave duty of preserving Christian memory, of handing on the teachings of Christ * but handing them on not merely as a list of prohibitions and rules. To do this would present a jaundiced and mistaken view of the gospel. The message of the Church is one promoting the fullness of life and presenting for all people the truth of how we find fulfilment in this life and the next. We must be presenting in our lives and in our teaching something of the joy of the vocation of Christian living.