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2005 Ron Paul Chapter 36
HON. RON PAUL OF TEXAS
BEFORE THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 6, 2005
Honoring Pope John Paul II- A Consistent Pro-life Figure
2005 Ron Paul 36:1
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in paying tribute to the life
and legacy of Pope John Paul II. Pope John Paul II was one of the great
religious leaders of modern times, and an eloquent champion of human
freedom and
dignity. Unlike all-too-many misguided religious leaders, the Pope
understood
that liberty, both personal and economic, is a necessary condition for
the
flourishing of human virtue.
2005 Ron Paul 36:2
The
Pope’s commitment to human dignity, grounded in the teachings of
Christ, led
him to become one of the most eloquent spokesmen for the consistent
ethic of
life, exemplified by his struggles against abortion, war, euthanasia,
and the
death penalty.
2005 Ron Paul 36:3
Unfortunately,
few in American politics today adhere to the consistent ethic of life,
thus we
see some who cheered the Pope’s stand against the war and the death
penalty
while downplaying or even openly defying his teachings against abortion
and
euthanasia.
2005 Ron Paul 36:4
Others
who cheered the Pope’s opposition to abortion and euthanasia were
puzzled or
hostile to his opposition to war. Many of these “pro-life supporters of
war”
tried to avoid facing the inherent contradictions in their position by
distorting the Just War doctrine, which the Pope properly interpreted
as denying
sanction to the Iraq war. One prominent conservative commentator even
suggested
that the pope was the “enemy” of the United States.
2005 Ron Paul 36:5
In
conclusion, I am pleased to pay tribute to Pope John Paul II. I would
encourage
those who wish to honor his memory to reflect on his teachings
regarding war and
the sanctity of life, and consider the inconsistencies in claiming to
be
pro-life but supporting the senseless killing of innocent people that
inevitably
accompanies militarism, or in claiming to be pro-peace and
pro-compassion but
supporting the legal killing of the unborn.
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