A moral theologian whose views are at odds with Church teaching on the use of contraception in marriage has been appointed as one of 28 new consultors to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. CNA reports that Pope Francis has appointed Fr Maurizio Chiodi to the DDF. Chiodi is known for his view Read more
The Vatican has signaled a nuanced shift in its stance on providing food and hydration to patients in a vegetative state. The stance is outlined in a new document published by the Pontifical Academy for Life (PAV). The text, titled “Small Lexicon on End of Life”, indicates a slight departure from the Church’s previous position. Read more
On Monday, France became the first country in the world to enshrine the right to abortion in its basic law, a move that has been staunchly opposed by the French bishops and by the Vatican. “The Pontifical Academy for Life reiterates that precisely in the era of universal human rights, there cannot be a ‘right’ Read more
The Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for Life has defended its president, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia (pictured with Pope Francis), against criticism for his recent remarks on euthanasia and assisted suicide. Speaking last week at the Perugia Journalism Festival on “The last journey (towards the end of life),” Paglia stated that the Catholic Church did not provide a Read more
Pope Francis told the Pontifical Academy for Life on Monday that it faces an enormous task in evaluating the ethics of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and human enhancement. The pope asked the academy on Feb. 20 to “ensure that scientific and technological growth is reconciled more and more with a parallel development Read more
A prominent Vatican theologian says Catholic teaching on contraception is open for “theological discussion, within the Church, and even the possibility of dissent”. Father Maurizio Chiodi (pictured) made the comments in an interview conducted by Fabrizio Mastrofini, the communications and social media manager of the Pontifical Academy for Life. Chiodi, who has been a member Read more
The Vatican’s top body on life issues has caused a stir for suggesting that one of the church’s most influential and controversial magisterial documents, Humanae Vitae, is not covered by papal infallibility. Over the weekend, a tweet sent from the Pontifical Academy for Life’s official Twitter account suggested that St Pope Paul VI’s 1968 encyclical Read more
There is speculation an encyclical focused on contraception, assisted procreation and palliative care from Pope Francis is imminent. The speculation comes from a late-2021 three-day seminar convened at the Vatican by the Pontifical Academy for Life. An essay titled “Rileggere l’etica teologica della vita” (“Re-reading the theological ethics of life”) was published on June 30 Read more
The Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for Life is promoting the change of the Church’s “black and white” morality approach. Instead, it would like to see an approach where conscience and discernment go hand-in-hand with the moral norms laid down by the Church. The Academy’s reflections are influenced by infinitesimal changes to moral theology. As an example, Read more
A new Vatican document warns against “lack of concern and sensitivity” towards the weak and elderly during the pandemic and its aftermath. The Pontifical Academy for Life, assisted by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, issued “Old Age: Our Future. The elderly after the pandemic” on February 9. It was signed by Archbishop Vincenzo Read more