Pontifical Academy for Life
Encyclopedia
The Pontifical Academy for Life or Pontificia Accademia Pro Vita is a Pontifical Academy
of the Roman Catholic Church
dedicated to promoting the Church's consistent life ethic
. It also does related research on bioethics
and Catholic moral theology
.
Though the Academy is considered an autonomous entity, it is linked to the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance and various other dicasteries of the Roman Curia
.
The Academy has seventy members named by the Pope, who represent different branches of biomedical sciences and those which are closely linked with problems concerning the promotion and defense of life. There are also three "ad honorem" members and members by correspondence who work in the Academy's various institutes and centers of study.
, euthenasia and abortion
.
It was also responsible for forming, in part, the Church's response to sexual abuse allegations.
On 14 February 2010, the Pope addressed members of the Academy to encourage them in their mission. He reitrated the Church's opposition to legislation
relating to biomedical or ethical issues which is decided without moral consideration.
, former rector of the Pontifical Lateran University
. On 30 June 2010, Archbishop Fisichella was named the first President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation
by Pope Benedict XVI
in a series of important appointments. Monsignor Ignacio Carrasco de Paula
(previously Chancellor of the Academy) was appointed the new President. Soon after his nomination, he was named a Bishop by Pope Benedict.
Pontifical Academy
A Pontifical Academy is an academic honorary society established by or under the direction of the Holy See. Some were in existence well before they were accepted as "Pontifical." Currently there are ten academies in Rome:...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
dedicated to promoting the Church's consistent life ethic
Consistent Life Ethic
The consistent life ethic, or the consistent ethic of life, was a term coined in 1983 by Joseph Cardinal Bernardin to express an ethical, religious, and political ideology based on the premise that all human life was sacred and should be protected by law. The ideology opposes legal abortion,...
. It also does related research on bioethics
Bioethics
Bioethics is the study of controversial ethics brought about by advances in biology and medicine. Bioethicists are concerned with the ethical questions that arise in the relationships among life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, politics, law, and philosophy....
and Catholic moral theology
Moral theology
Moral theology is a systematic theological treatment of Christian ethics. It is usually taught on Divinity faculties as a part of the basic curriculum.- External links :*...
.
Constitution
Founded in 1994, the Academy is dedicated to "study, information and formation on the principal problems of biomedicine and of law, relative to the promotion and defense of life, above all in the direct relation that they have with Christian morality and the directives of the Church's Magisterium".Though the Academy is considered an autonomous entity, it is linked to the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance and various other dicasteries of the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
.
The Academy has seventy members named by the Pope, who represent different branches of biomedical sciences and those which are closely linked with problems concerning the promotion and defense of life. There are also three "ad honorem" members and members by correspondence who work in the Academy's various institutes and centers of study.
Activities
The Academy is responsible for the development and promotion of many of the Catholic Church's positions on questions of medical ethics including procreation, IVF, gene therapyGene therapy
Gene therapy is the insertion, alteration, or removal of genes within an individual's cells and biological tissues to treat disease. It is a technique for correcting defective genes that are responsible for disease development...
, euthenasia and abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
.
It was also responsible for forming, in part, the Church's response to sexual abuse allegations.
On 14 February 2010, the Pope addressed members of the Academy to encourage them in their mission. He reitrated the Church's opposition to legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
relating to biomedical or ethical issues which is decided without moral consideration.
Leadership
The Academy had been, from 2008, led by Archbishop Salvatore FisichellaRino Fisichella
Salvatore Rino Fisichella is an Italian titular archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current and first President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation...
, former rector of the Pontifical Lateran University
Pontifical Lateran University
The Pontifical Lateran University is a university by pontifical right based in Rome, Italy. The university also hosts the central session of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family...
. On 30 June 2010, Archbishop Fisichella was named the first President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation
Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation
The Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization is a dicastery of the Roman Curia whose creation was announced by Pope Benedict XVI at vespers on 28 June 2010, eve of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul...
by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
in a series of important appointments. Monsignor Ignacio Carrasco de Paula
Ignacio Carrasco de Paula
Ignacio Carrasco de Paula is the current president of the Pontifical Academy for Life since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 30 June 2010....
(previously Chancellor of the Academy) was appointed the new President. Soon after his nomination, he was named a Bishop by Pope Benedict.
Presidents of the Academy
- Jérôme LejeuneJérôme LejeuneServant of God Jérôme Jean Louis Marie Lejeune was a French Catholic pro-life paediatrician and geneticist, best known for his discovery of the link of diseases to chromosome abnormalities...
(1994) - Juan de Dios Vial Correa (1994-2004)
- Elio SgrecciaElio SgrecciaElio Sgreccia is a bioethicist and a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He is President emeritus of the Pontifical Academy for Life....
(3 January 2005 – 17 June 2008) - Salvatore FisichellaRino FisichellaSalvatore Rino Fisichella is an Italian titular archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current and first President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation...
(17 June 2008 - 30 June 2010) - Ignacio Carrasco de PaulaIgnacio Carrasco de PaulaIgnacio Carrasco de Paula is the current president of the Pontifical Academy for Life since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 30 June 2010....
(30 June 2010 - present)
External links
- Pontifical Academy for Life Homepage
- Description and documents in English, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, on the site of the Roman CuriaRoman CuriaThe Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
.