Pope Benedict XVI Blog

In wake of G8, Pope warns of “dark scenarios” for world if absolutism of technology persists

» 07/12/2009 13:47
VATICAN

Benedict XVI returns to the principal themes of his social encyclical reaffirming the need for a global commitment to development, to eliminate "social inequality and structural injustices that are no longer tolerable." The social question has become an "anthropological” issue which implies a way of conceiving man in truth, body and soul. Prayers for Honduras and a farewell ahead of holidays in Les Combes (Aosta Valley).

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "The absolutism of technology, which finds its clearest expression in certain practices contrary to life”, could "draw dark scenarios for the future of humanity": Benedict XVI returns to warn against a development that is only concerned with technological progress, bringing with it the manipulation of embryos, abortion, euthanasia, sterilization, birth control under the pretext of wanting to promote human development. At today's Angelus address the pontiff reiterated the views expressed in his recently published social encyclical, Caritas in Veritate.

"Acts that do not respect the true dignity of the person - said the pope - even when they seem motivated by a 'choice of love', in reality are the result of a 'material and mechanistic conception of human life', which reduces ' love without truth to ‘an empty shell to fill arbitrarily' (cf. No. 6 of the encyclical) and can thus result in adverse effects in integral human development. "

Citing other issues in the encyclical, he reiterated that today the social question 'has become a radically anthropological question' in the sense that it involves the very way we conceive the human being who is increasingly placed in the hands of man himself through modern biotechnology (see ibid. 75). Solutions to current problems of humanity can not only be technical, but must take into account all the needs of the person who has a soul and body. "

The social question also has a "world horizon". The Pope recalled the importance of the just concluded G8 summit, but above all he stressed that "there are social inequalities and structural inequities in the world that are no longer tolerable, which require, in addition to immediate action, a coordinated strategy to find durable solutions ".

The Church, he said, "has no technical solutions to offer, but, as an expert in humanity, it offers everyone the teaching of Sacred Scripture on truth and proclaims the Gospel of love and justice."
A "a new economic plan” is required “that redesigns development in a holistic way, building on the foundation of ethical responsibility before God and man as a creature of God." And quoting the encyclical, the pontiff said: "In an increasingly globalized society, the common good and the effort to obtain it cannot fail to assume the dimensions of the whole human family, "(n. 7).
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See also from CNA, "Technological 'absolutism’ could lead to ‘dark scenarios,’ Pope Benedict warns."

And from YouTube-Vatican's Channel:

Pope Benedict XVI: Overcome materialistic culture
July 12, 2009

posted by Dr. Denice Hanley, DPM, M.Div. @ 1:59 PM