Life, Food, Peace, Freedom

Here are some of the Holy Father's words on the above issues, quoted from John Paul II Highlights Humanity's 4 Challenges:

Life

The Church's position, supported by reason and science, is clear. The human embryo is a subject identical to the human being which will be born at the term of its development. Consequently, whatever violates the integrity and the dignity of the embryo is ethically inadmissible.

Any form of scientific research which treats the embryo merely as a laboratory specimen is unworthy of man.

Scientific research in the field of genetics needs to be encouraged and promoted, but, like every other human activity, it can never be exempt from moral imperatives; research using adult stem cells, moreover, offers the promise of considerable success.

And continuing about the issue of homosexual "marriage" and its relation to the Culture of Death, His Holiness had this to say:

In some countries the family is also threatened by legislation which -- at times directly -- challenges its natural structure, which is and must necessarily be that of union between a man and a woman founded on marriage.

The family, as a fruitful source of life and a fundamental and irreplaceable condition for the happiness of the individual spouses, for the raising of children and for the well-being of society, and indeed for the material prosperity of the nation, must never be undermined by laws based on a narrow and unnatural vision of man.

Food

An adequate response to this need, which is growing in scale and urgency, calls for a vast mobilization of public opinion; the same applies all the more to political leaders, especially in those countries enjoying a sufficient or even prosperous standard of living.

[However,] the principle of the universal destination of the earth's goods cannot be used to justify collectivist forms of economic policy [but] should serve to advance a radical commitment to justice and a more attentive and determined display of solidarity. This is the good which can overcome the evil of hunger and unjust poverty.

Peace

How many wars and armed conflicts continue to take place -- between states, ethnic groups, peoples and groups living in the same territory. [sic] From one end of the world to the other, they are claiming countless innocent victims and spawning so many other evils....

In addition to these tragic evils there is the brutal, inhuman phenomenon of terrorism, a scourge which has taken on a global dimension unknown to previous generations.

How can the great challenge of building peace overcome such evils? I shall continue... pointing out the paths of peace and urging that they be followed with courage and patience. The arrogance of power must be countered with reason, force with dialogue, pointed weapons with outstretched hands, evil with good.

Bringing about an authentic and lasting peace in this violence-filled world calls for a power of peace that does not shrink before difficulties. It is a power that human beings on their own cannot obtain or preserve: It is a gift from God

Freedom

There need be no fear that legitimate religious freedom would limit other freedoms or be injurious to the life of civil society. On the contrary: together with religious freedom, all other freedoms develop and thrive, inasmuch as freedom is an indivisible good, the prerogative of the human person and his dignity.

Neither should there be a fear that religious freedom, once granted to the Catholic Church, would intrude upon the realm of political freedom and the competencies proper to the state.

The Church is able carefully to distinguish, as she must, what belongs to Caesar from what belongs to God. She asks only for freedom, so that she can effectively cooperate with all public and private institutions concerned with the good of mankind.

We are truly blessed with a great shepherd in the personage of His Holiness Pope John Paul II!

Viva il papa!