166
any situation and at every stage of development.
Human beings are ends in themselves and nev-
er a means of resolving other problems. Once
this conviction disappears, so do solid and last-
ing foundations for the defence of human rights,
which would always be subject to the passing
whims of the powers that be. Reason alone is
sufficient to recognize the inviolable value of
each single human life, but if we also look at the
issue from the standpoint of faith, âevery viola-
tion of the personal dignity of the human being
cries out in vengeance to God and is an offence
against the creator of the individualâ.
176
214.âPrecisely because this involves the inter-
nal consistency of our message about the value
of the human person, the Church cannot be ex-
pected to change her position on this question. I
want to be completely honest in this regard. This
is not something subject to alleged reforms or
âmodernizationsâ. It is not âprogressiveâ to try
to resolve problems by eliminating a human life.
On the other hand, it is also true that we have
done little to adequately accompany women in
very difficult situations, where abortion appears
as a quick solution to their profound anguish,
especially when the life developing within them
is the result of rape or a situation of extreme
poverty. Who can remain unmoved before such
painful situations?
176
âJ
ohn
P
aul
II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation
Christifideles Laici
(30 December 1988), 37: AAS 81 (1989), 461.
