Defense of human rights lethally undermined by relativism, says Spanish archbishop

Apr 27, 2007 / 08:02 am

In his weekly pastoral letter, Archbishop Agustin Garcia Gasco of Valencia warned that the “defense of human rights on our planet is being lethally undermined by relativism, by arbitrariness in the recognition of the human rights of the weakest and the unprotected.”

In his letter, the archbishop recalled that Pope John Paul II warned of a war of the strong against the weak, with “the former overprotected by all kinds of resources and instruments, and the latter deprived of their most elementary rights, especially the right to life, out of the abuse of power of the former.”

He questioned whether those who support abortion and euthanasia, or those who ignore the problems of hunger, addiction, and exploitation, truly have “a sincere and credible commitment to every human being and his or her dignity.”

Archbishop Garcia-Gasco stressed that the Church “seeks true solutions to man’s problems in Christ,” and that therefore the faithful should keep their eyes on the Master, on “his message, his example, the strength of the sacraments, particularly the Eucharistic presence, which provides the spiritual strength and the clear vision necessary for respecting the dignity of all human beings with consistency and effectiveness.”
 
Human dignity, he went on, will be left undefended unless society promotes respect for the value of each human being.  “The culture of love and of life consists of this,” he said.

The archbishop also noted that scientific advancement, technological development, religious freedom and democracy are not means that can be used for any end.  While they are “extremely valuable achievements,” they need to be placed at the service of the “only value that truly sustains all others: the dignity of each human being,” he explained.

Lastly, Archbishop Garcia-Gasco emphasized that acknowledgement of God does not constitute an obstacle to true human progress.  Christian teaching on love helps individuals to “discern good from evil,” what is “just from what is unjust,” and “it strengthens us to make this a reality in our decisions and in our lives.”