Are there objective moral values which can unite human beings and bring them peace and happiness? What are they? How are they discerned? How can they be put into action in the live
Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—in a word, to kn
The splendour of truth shines forth in all the works of the Creator and, in a special way, in man, created in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen 1:26). Truth enlightens man's i
Man participates in the wisdom and goodness of the Creator who gives him mastery over his acts and the ability to govern himself with a view to the true and the good. The natural
When he presents the heart of his redemptive mission, Jesus says: "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (Jn 10:10). In truth, he is referring to that "new" and "
The transmission of human life is a most serious role in which married people collaborate freely and responsibly with God the Creator. It has always been a source of great joy to t
In the Encyclical "Humanae vitae" we read: "The Church, in urging men to the observance of the precepts of the natural law, which it interprets by its constant doctrine, teaches as
That a marvelous order predominates in the world of living beings and in the forces of nature, is the plain lesson which the progress of modern research and the discoveries of tech
It is a moving experience for me to be back again in the university and to be able once again to give a lecture at this podium. I think back to those years when, after a pleasant p
The moral law is a work of divine Wisdom. It prescribes the ways and the rules of conduct that lead to the promised beatitude and it forbids the ways that turn away from God.
The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anx
Indeed, God is visible in a number of ways. In the love-story recounted by the Bible, he comes towards us, he seeks to win our hearts, all the way to the Last Supper, to the pierci
Christ is the Light of nations. Because this is so, this Sacred Synod gathered together in the Holy Spirit eagerly desires, by proclaiming the Gospel to every creature, to bring th
As you know, there are various reasons why I chose the name of Francis of Assisi, a familiar figure far beyond the borders of Italy and Europe, even among those who do not profess
At this moment of great responsibility, let us listen with special attention to what the Lord says to us in his own words. I would like to examine just a few passages from the thre
Every authentic religious experience, in all cultural traditions, leads to an intuition of the Mystery that, not infrequently, is able to recognize some aspect of God's face. On th
Recognizing that natural law is the basis for and places limits on positive law means admitting that it is legitimate to resist authority should it violate in a serious or repeated
In the exercise of their freedom, men and women perform morally good acts that are constructive for the person and for society when they are obedient to truth, that is, when they d
The expression ‘Natural Law’ is used in three related ways: First, in philosophy of law to refer to the idea that as well as the realm of laws made by legislators (‘positive law’) there is another realm prior to and independent of it by which the justice of positive laws may be judged, this being the natural law or ‘natural justice’. Second, as referring to that part of morality that can be known by natural reason in contrast to that which is only known through revelation, hence: natural vs revealed law. Third, in reference to an approach, and to of set of values and principles advocated by that approach, that are rooted in an account of human nature. Versions of all three are to be found in Plato. An example of this third use is the attempt to establish fair principles of ownership and exchange, of marriage and sexual ethics, etc., based on theories of human nature and of what protects and promotes the human good. Critics of natural law sometimes accuse it of committing the ‘naturalistic fallacy’ by trying to derive ‘ought’ from ‘is’. Defenders hold that the criticism is misconceived in assuming an absolute distinction between facts and values, whereas these are often inextricably linked, thus to say that something is cruel is both to describe and evaluate it.
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