Burke's speech kicks off Celebrate Life Week
Michele Parrish
- Page 1 of 1
|
St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke made his first appearance at Saint Louis University on Tuesday night in the Busch Student Center, serving as an early kickoff to Students for Life's annual Celebrate Life Week.
His speech, "The Sanctity of Human Life," focused on the respect that human life must be given, under any circumstance.
"Respect for human life is the foundation of our lives," Burke said to a crowd of about 200 students, faculty and staff.
He explained that this respect is absolute; it is never right to take another human life. The only exception comes when, in protecting life, one is forced to take a life.
Burke commented on how law is interpreted by the courts, which say that it is just to take a human life, even the life of the completely defenseless--the unborn. According to Burke, not all human life issues have the same weight when it comes to moral gravity. It is worse to take the life of someone unable to defend themselves than to take the life of someone who can fight back.
"In society ... we must recognize the graver evil of procured abortion," Burke said. "If the person is not even permitted to be born, there is no respect for that human life."
Burke also spoke on the idea of just war, saying that with regards to respect for life, nuclear warfare could never be justified.
Burke also addressed issues such as capital punishment, calling it just only when it is used to protect life. "We should not be surprised that we have the most violent society in history," Burke said. "Children are growing up learning to be violent. The principle of self-defense was never intended to permit vengeance."
Near the end of his speech, he also denounced cloning and stem-cell research. The question-and-answer portion of the evening raised the temperature a bit, as more controversial issues were brought to the floor. The archbishop, who in February declared that he would not offer the Eucharist to Sen. John Kerry if he were to approach Burke for the sacrament, defended his decision.
"I considered over and over the scandal caused by politicians who said they were devout Catholics and supported abortion," Burke said. "I believe that in such circumstances it is necessary for the Church to state her belief that this politician is not in line with the Church." Anyone who publicly supports abortion "should be publicly admonished from receiving Communion."
"Clearly, not everyone has been thrilled with what I did at La Crosse. I can say to you, with my conscience as a shepherd of the flock, my only regret is that it took me so long to do it."
Another hot topic, homosexuality, was presented as a question to Burke.
"Human sexuality is essentially ordered to the generation of human life," Burke responded. "God made me sexual for the purpose of the unit of love with a person of the opposite sex to create new life. The homosexual act is sterile. To use genital activity to express affection for a person of the same sex is wrong."
Burke, 55, succeeded Cardinal Justin Rigali, and was installed on Jan. 26, 2004.
Celebrate Life Week officially begins next week, with the Mass for Life Sunday, April 18, at 10 p.m. in St. Francis Xavier College Church. Other events during the week include a festival in the Quad from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday April 19, and a prayer vigil at Planned Parenthood at 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, April 22.