From the words of His Holiness Pope John Paul II:
To be truly a people at the service of life we must propose these truths constantly and courageously from the very first proclamation of the Gospel, and thereafter in catechesis, in the various forms of preaching, in personal dialogue and in all educational activity. Teachers, catechists and theologians have the task of emphasizing the anthropological reasons upon which respect for every human life is based. In this way, by making the newness of the Gospel of life shine forth, we can also help everyone discover in the light of reason and of personal experience how the Christian message fully reveals what man is and the meaning of his being and existence. We shall find important points of contact and dialogue also with nonbelievers, in our common commitment to the establishment of a new culture of life.
Faced
with so many opposing points of view, and a widespread rejection of sound
doctrine concerning human life, we can feel that Paul’s entreaty to Timothy is
also addressed to us: ‘Preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season,
convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing impatience and in teaching’ (2 Tim
4:2). This exhortation should resound with special force in the hearts of those
members of the Church who directly share, in different ways, in her mission as
‘teacher’ of the truth. May it resound above all for us who are bishops: we
the first ones called to be untiring preachers of the Gospel of life. We are
also entrusted with the task of ensuring that the doctrine which is once again
being set forth in this encyclical is faithfully handed on in its integrity. We
must use appropriate means to defend the faithful from all teaching which is
contrary to it. We need to make sure that in theological faculties, seminaries
and Catholic institutions sound doctrine is taught, explained and more fully
investigated.[Veritatis Splendor, August 6, 1993] May Paul’s exhortation
strike a chord in all theologians, pastors, teachers and in all those
responsible for catechesis and the formation of consciences. Aware of their
specific role, may they never be so grievously irresponsible as to betray the
truth and their own mission by proposing personal ideas contrary to the Gospel
of life as faithfully presented and interpreted by the Magisterium.
In the
proclamation of this Gospel, we must not fear hostility or unpopularity, and we
must refuse any compromise or ambiguity which might conform us to the world’s
way of thinking (cf. Rom 12:2). We must be in the world but not of the world (cf.Jn
15:19; 17:16), drawing our strength from Christ, who by his death and
resurrection has overcome the world (cf. Jn 16:33).
Pope John Paul II