NRLC on Pope John Paul II

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Rochester Area Right To Life

NATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE  PRAISES POPE JOHN PAUL II

The National  Right to Life Committee (NRLC) joins with millions worldwide in mourning the death of Pope John Paul II. 

“Pope John Paul II was an unfaltering voice for the unborn, the disabled and the elderly and was a strong defender of the right to life,” stated Wanda Franz, Ph.D., president of the National Right to Life Committee.  “His stalwart opposition to the evils of abortion, infanticide and euthanasia was grounded in compassion and love and he will be deeply missed.”

Pope John Paul II was an outspoken pro-life advocate and throughout his 26-year papacy, he helped bring the Catholic Church to the forefront of the battle against legalized abortion and euthanasia worldwide.  In his public addresses, Pope John Paul II would often reaffirm the Church’s support for life from conception to natural death.  He encouraged outreach to women who have had abortions, offering them help and healing.

The Pope was extremely vocal in his defense of life.  In March 1995, he issued Evangelium Vitae, an encyclical which reaffirmed the universal right to life for all people.  In March 2004, during a Vatican conference on the “vegetative” state, he issued the first clear and explicit papal statement on the moral obligation to provide food and water for patients in a “persistent vegetative state,” stating that “the administration of food and water...always represents a natural means of preserving life, not a medical act.” 

The Holy Father also publicly criticized Catholic politicians who support abortion.

The Pope was well-known for his love of children, often appearing happiest during his visits to World Youth Day, an annual worldwide gathering of young people.  He was committed to spreading the culture of life to the next generation of world leaders.

Because of his outstanding commitment to the worldwide pro-life movement, Pope John Paul II was honored with a special tribute at the 1996 Proudly Pro-Life Awards Dinner sponsored by the National Right to Life Educational Trust Fund.  The tribute was later presented to the Pope in a ceremony at the Vatican.

“Pope John Paul II will be remembered with love for his dedication to the pro-life cause and for the millions of lives he has touched around the world through his words and actions,” stated Dr. Franz.

The National Right to Life Committee is the nation’s largest pro-life group with affiliates in all fifty states and more than 3,000 local chapters nationwide.  NRLC works through legislation and education to protect those threatened by abortion, infanticide, euthanasia and assisted suicide. Their website is  www.nrlc.org

 RARTL Updated April 15, 2005


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