Vatican Secretary of State Criticizes United Nations for Promoting Abortion, Gender Ideology

Washington, DC Newsroom, Sep 24, 2024 / 6:25 pm

In a speech to the United Nations “Summit of the Future” In New York, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, stressed the need to promote the dignity of the human person and expressed the Vatican’s disapproval of the assembly’s promotion of abortion and gender ideology.

Parolin addressed UN members gathered for the summit on Monday. While he praised the summit participants for their participation in the dialogue, Parolin noted that there is a “need to reconsider actions in a number of areas.”

The cardinal expressed the Vatican’s concerns about a document titled “Pact for the Future,” adopted by summit participants on Sunday. He said that “in keeping with its nature and specific mission, (the Holy See) wishes to express its reservations” regarding the assembly’s promotion of abortion and gender ideology.

The Holy See retains the status of a non-voting “permanent observer” in the United Nations.

What did Parolin say?

Parolin stressed the need to promote the dignity of the human person throughout the world. He hailed the summit as a “reason for hope” amid a time of crisis when there is an ongoing “erosion of trust among nations, as evidenced by the increasing prevalence and intensity of conflict.”

“Today, the sense of belonging to a single human family is fading, and the dream of working together for justice and peace seems outdated and utopian. This need not be the case, if there is a will to engage in genuine dialogue,” Parolin said. “If dignity is the foundation and integral human development is the goal of our future, dialogue is the necessary means.”

Although the “Pact for the Future” adopted by the summit does not explicitly mention abortion, the summit does state its goal of “ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights.” “Reproductive health” and “reproductive rights” are terms used to refer to a range of primarily women’s health services, often including abortion.

“With regard to the terms ‘sexual and reproductive health’ and ‘reproductive rights,’ the Holy See considers these terms to apply to a holistic concept of health, each of which in its own way embraces the person in his or her totality of personality, mind and body, and which promotes the attainment of personal maturity in sexuality and in the mutual love and decision-making that characterize the marital relationship between a man and a woman in accordance with moral norms,” Parolin said.

“The Holy See does not consider abortion or access to abortion or means of promoting abortion as a dimension of these terms,” he clarified.

“With regard to ‘gender,’” Parolin continued, “the Holy See understands that the term is grounded in the biological sexual identity that is male or female.”

What other issues did Parolin highlight?

Parolin then emphasized the Vatican’s belief that the “eradication of poverty” through global development must be the “overarching goal of all future action.”

He also stressed the need to pursue peace through global disarmament and the “total elimination of nuclear weapons,” saying that “narrow geopolitical considerations must be put aside and powerful economic lobbies must be countered in order to preserve human dignity and ensure a future in which all people can enjoy integral development, both as individuals and as communities.”

Finally, Parolin also said there is an “urgent need” for governments to regulate the development of artificial intelligence to “promote AI ethics that encompasses the AI ​​lifecycle, including data protection, accountability, bias, and the impact of AI on employment.”

“Above all,” Parolin said, “thinking about the future must take into account the needs and interests of future generations. It is essential to ensure a dignified future for all, by providing the conditions — including a nurturing family environment — to promote flourishing, while addressing the many challenges that stand in the way, including those stemming from poverty, conflict, exploitation and addiction.”

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