Respect Life Ministry - Diocese of Belleville at 2620 Lebanon Ave., Bldg #2, Belleville, IL 62221 US -  Broadly Speaking...

This page will develop as themes emerge which enhance our understanding of living a Gospel of LIfe. 

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This (Click Here) is an address by Pope Benedict XVI, May 4. 2009, to the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.  Printed, it is less than three pages, and serves to link the principle of the dignity of the human person and human rights, which the pope sees as "a point of encounter between the doctrine of the Church and contemporary society."  He touches on the development of the fullness of this understanding and ties it to the natural law, "a universal guide recognizable to everyone, on the basis of which all people can reciprocally understand and love each other."  He highlights the fragility of human freedom especially apart from this sound foundation.  He also challenges us to fully apply this perspective to eliminate global social inequalities.  His reflection is helpful to give us the language to engage, as President Obama suggested, "through reason, through an appeal whenever we can to universal rather than parochial principles." (Address at Notre Dame, May 17,2009) 

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