Pope: Peace is possible but must be won V ATICAN CITY (NC) — Both peace and freedom are threatened by terrorism, totalitarian systems, religious r epression and economic inequalities, Pope John Paul II said in his message for the 14th World Day of Peace, on J anuary 1. In a 14-page statement on the day's theme, "to serve peace, respect freedom," the Pope addressed a variety of issues, including materialism, abortion, world hunger and nuclear warfare. Although he said that "the spectacle that meets our eyes at the beginning of the 80s seems hardly reassuring," Pope John Paul said he spoke "from a powerful conviction that peace is possible, but that it is also something that has to be continually won." In a section of the document on "conditions that call for a fresh examination today," the Pope listed a number of political and social situations which threaten freedom. But he also said the concept of freedom is sometimes misused to justify excessive consumerism or moral permissiveness. "The consumer society -- that excess of goods not needed by man — can in a way constitute an abuse of freedom when the more and more insatiable pursuit of goods is not subjected to the law of justice and of social love," he said. Pope John Paul issued a plea for international efforts to solve the world hunger problem, asking rich c ountries to "direct their aid with the primary aim of actively eliminating absolute poverty." In addition, he said, "true freedom is not advanced in the permissive society, which confuses freedom with licence to do anything whatever and which in the name of freedom p roclaims a kind of general amorality. "There are many examples of this mistaken idea of freedom, such as the elimination of human life by legalised or generally accepted abortion," the Pope added.
WA finalist, Robyn Strauch, is Miss Australian Catholic Lawn Tennis Queen for 1980 and she is pictured receiving her sash from Bishop Quinn at the interstate carnival dinner on Monday night while compere Brian Thirley looks on. On hand to assist in the presentation was another former WA winner, Alison Higgins, who took off the national award in Adelaide in 1979. Carol Sanderson of WA was a winner in Tasmania in 1975. Robyn is a teacher at Our Lady's Assumption School, Diane/la. Taking part in the dinner dance celebration were 80 Eastern States visitors swelling the crowd to 181. Tennis competitions are in progress this week. csaeb000e5363257.52_
The Pope devoted a lengthy section of his message to religious freedom, calling it "the basis of all other freedoms." Governments "must allow each person a juridically protected domain of independence, so that every human being can live, individually and collectively, in accordance with the demands of his or her conscience," he said. In closing the message, Pope John Paul said that the world must not "accept violence as the way to peace. "Let us instead begin by respecting true freedom," he added. "The resulting peace will be able to satisfy the world's expectations, for it will be a peace built on justice, a peace founded on the incomparable dignity of the free human being." (See P.4 — Pope's words on peace.)
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ADELAIDE: South Australians were called upon to review their attitude to human life, by Archbishop Gleeson speaking on Atonement Day December 29. He expressed concern about the continuing growth in the number of abortions in South Australia and particularly the increase in teenage pregnancies and abortions.
On the issue of war and arms, Pope John Paul expressed the fear that "war may become — or remain — a normal fact of our civilisation, with 'limited' armed conflicts going on for Archbishop Gleeson has desig- single girls, 49.4% in 1974 and long periods without exciting public nated Monday, December 29, as a in 1979, it had grown to 57.5%. c oncern or with a succession of civil Day of Atonement for the innocent lives destroyed through abortion. "Whatever the reason for an wars:" This is the Feast of the Holy Inno- unplanned pregnancy, abortion He said such conflicts arise from cents, when Catholics traditionally should not be seen as the solu"territorial expansion, ideological honour the innocent children of tion," Archbishop Gleeson imperialism, for the triumph of Israel who were slaughtered by King said. Which weapons of total annihilation Herod in his attempt to murder the "Australia is often described are stockpiled, economic exploita- infant Jesus. as a 'Lucky Country'. tion deliberately perpetuated, obses- He noted the increases of teenage sion with territorial security, ethnic abortions and the increasing number "It seems tragic that so many human lives are destroyed, differences exploited by arms deal- of abortions on single. girls. In 1970, ers, and many other causes as well." 38% of abortions were obtained by especially when it is claimed that 96.9% of abortions are for psychiatric and psychosocial reasons."
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rights of the aged and infirm to adequate care and protection. "Many proclaim that the decision to terminate a pregnancy is a private matter. "But society must now take account of the sheer number of terminations. "Abortion has become a public and social phenomenon and is no longer just a private phenomenon. "Australian society must ask itself: What is happening to the human beings who make up our society? What is happening in our society when legal protection is no longer effectively offered to children in the womb.
Archbishop Gleeson referred to Pope John Paul II's repeated emphasis on the dignity of the human person and the sacredness of human life. "It behoves us as Catholics," "The present trend in social the Archbishop said, "To pro- attitudes can only lead to one claim this truth in our society end a society which attaches today. little value to lives of the born as "This is important at the well as the unborn, one in which the lives of not only the handibeginning of life. capped but also the ideologi"It is also important at fife end cally undesirables will be at of life when we consider the risk.
Town & Country.
Setting the Pace. Town & Country Permanent Building Society 297 Murray Street Perth Telephone 327 3333.
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