COUNTRY
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Holy See (Vatican City State)
TRADITION
Roman Catholic
TOPICS
The Catholic Church in World AffairsAs one of the most ancient and extensive institutions in the modern age, the Catholic Church has had and continues to exert a significant influence on diverse world...
SUB-TOPICS
Papal Documents
One of the largest sources of insight into the Catholic Church in world affairs comes from the wide collection of papal encyclicals written and promulgated by the pope, the...
Family and Sexuality
With families forming the backbone of its communities, the Catholic Church has been a vocal proponent of the traditional family and healthy boundaries on sexual activities....
Economic and Social Justice
The Catholic Church’s concerns with economic and social well-being and justice date back to the early years of the Christian community, but it was not until 1891 when the...
AT THE CENTER
EVENTS (5)
Which Model, Whose Liberty?: Differences between the U.S. and European Approaches to Religious Freedom
October 11, 2012
October 11, 2012
PUBLICATIONS (4)
INTERVIEWS (22)
A Discussion with Edwin Barasa, Director of Programs for Africa Peace Forum in Nairobi, Kenya
July 12, 2010
July 12, 2010
A Discussion with Abdirashid Abdullahi, Member of the Committee of Experts on Constitutional Review, Nairobi, Kenya
June 28, 2010
June 28, 2010
LETTERS (25)
Melanie Pitkin on the Catholic Church and Recent Trends in Argentine Social Politics
December 1, 2009
December 1, 2009
POSTS (44)
RELATED RESOURCES: ABORTION
Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life)
March 25, 1995
Issued in 1995, Evangelium Vitae articulates the Church's position on certain social issues related to the sanctity of human life. The encyclical reaffirms the Church's opposition to abortion, euthanasia, and artificial contraception, but it likewise addresses matters of economics as they relate to human life, connecting abortion's pervasiveness with a perception of the poor as burdensome. Respect for human dignity and dedication to human flourishing must be at the heart of any business endeavor, and great care must be taken to ensure that the weakest members of society are protected. For this reason, abortion is seen as a very grave evil, and all persons are exhorted to work for its elimination. Elected officials, in a special way, must oppose absolutely any attempt to legalize or condone abortion, but the encyclical accedes that politicians may support legislation aimed at reducing the number of abortions if no more favorable legislation exists.
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II was the head of the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005. Born Karol Wojtyla in Poland in 1920, he secretly trained for the priesthood in an underground seminary during the Nazi occupation of Poland. He participated in the...
Roman Catholic Church
The Roman Catholic Church is the world's largest Christian Church, with over 1 billion members, and currently headed by Pope Francis. Since becoming the official religion of the Roman Empire in the 4th century, it has been persistently influential...
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II was the head of the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005. Born Karol Wojtyla in Poland in 1920, he secretly trained for the priesthood in an underground seminary during the Nazi occupation of Poland. He participated in the...
Roman Catholic Church
The Roman Catholic Church is the world's largest Christian Church, with over 1 billion members, and currently headed by Pope Francis. Since becoming the official religion of the Roman Empire in the 4th century, it has been persistently influential...