Pope seen advancing social teaching in ways that address U.N. issues

Published: 2004-04-02

NEW YORK (CNS) -- A Vatican official told participants in a New York symposium April 1 that Pope John Paul II has advanced Catholic social teaching in ways that address key issues currently before the United Nations. Msgr. Frank J. Dewane, undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, said the pope showed "no nostalgia for a world gone by," but devoted himself to moving the church's social thought into "new terrain." The cornerstone of Pope John Paul's social teaching is "the innate dignity of the human being," and from this standpoint he defends human dignity against the assaults that come from all directions, Msgr. Dewane said. He said the pope had broadened the concept of the right to life so that it included a wide range of issues, but still identified this right as basic. The pope believes that if a society does not hold to this principle it will have difficulty maintaining other rights, he said. Msgr. Dewane spoke at Holy Family Church, whose parish boundaries include the area of the U.N. headquarters and many of the U.N.-related missions and international organizations.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .