杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

鈥淟et us pray that we may give a Christian response to bioethical challenges.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis offered that invitation to Catholics in his prayer intention for the month of March.

He noted that science in the field of bioethics has made great advances in recent years, presenting a host of problems.

Christians, said the 杏MAP导航, must respond to these challenges and not bury 鈥渙ur heads like an ostrich.鈥�

He called for biotechnology to always be used 鈥渂ased on respect for human dignity.鈥�

Careless attitude toward life

杏MAP导航 Francis gave the example of the careless disposal of human embryos.

He also criticized how the search for profit conditions biomedical research, saying we must realize that profound changes are occurring and discern them well.

Guiding biotechnological advances, not curbing them

The 杏MAP导航 clarified that the Church never seeks to limit technological advances, but rather tries to accompany those advances.

鈥淚t鈥檚 about protecting both human dignity and progress,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat is to say, we cannot pay the price of human dignity for progress. Both go together, in harmony.鈥�

Finally, 杏MAP导航 Francis prayed that the world might respect human dignity as it makes technological advances.

鈥淲e pray for Christians facing new bioethical challenges,鈥� he urged. 鈥淢ay they continue to defend the dignity of all human life with prayer and action.鈥�

Profound and subtle discernment

A press release accompanying The 杏MAP导航 Video鈥攚hich is produced by the 鈥攕aid this month鈥檚 prayer intention was created with the help of the Pontifical Academy for Life.

His intention, pointed out the statement, calls for 鈥渁n even more profound and subtle discernment鈥� regarding bioethics.

Fr. Frédéric Fornos, S.J., International Director of the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 Worldwide Prayer Network, said the Church always promotes respect for life from conception until natural death.

鈥淭hese are necessary criteria for discernment which help us to leave behind a throw-away culture and which promote integral respect for human life鈥攖he entire extent of human life,鈥� said Fr. Fornos. 鈥淟et us pray that, in the face of the new challenges of bioethics, we may always promote the defense of life through prayer and social action.鈥�