Value Of A Human Life - Homily by Archbishop William Goh (01 July 2020)

Summary

The speaker critiques the hypocrisy and inconsistency of the world’s stance on human rights, freedom, and dignity. They highlight the contradiction between promoting human rights and engaging in actions like abortion, euthanasia, and war. The speaker contrasts this with the Church’s consistent pro-life stance, advocating for the protection of life at every stage, from conception to death. They emphasize that true freedom is rooted in respect for human life, and call for integrity in our principles, warning against a world that values lives based on economic utility.

Takeaways

• 😀 The world claims to champion human rights and dignity, but its actions are inconsistent with these ideals.
• 😀 The world promotes human rights, but simultaneously supports practices like abortion, euthanasia, and IVF that discards embryos.
• 😀 The world invests billions in armament, yet claims there is no money for healthcare and poverty alleviation.
• 😀 Weapons can only destroy; they cannot nourish or solve poverty, which is exacerbated by promoting violence.
• 😀 The world’s concept of freedom is distorted, encouraging behaviors that harm individuals and society, such as the spread of fake news, glorifying violence, and dividing families.
• 😀 True freedom is not simply the freedom to do whatever one wants, especially when it leads to destruction or harm to others.
• 😀 The Church, in contrast to the world, consistently values and protects human life at every stage, from conception to death.
• 😀 The world tends to measure human life in terms of economic value, placing profits before people’s dignity.
• 😀 Euthanasia is not just about mercy for those in unbearable pain; it is also used to justify ending the lives of those deemed ‘unproductive’ or ‘invaluable’.
• 😀 Practices like IVF, where embryos are discarded, show a lack of genuine respect for all life and fail to honor every life equally.

Q & A

What is the speaker's main criticism of the world's approach to human rights and dignity?

The speaker criticizes the world for its hypocrisy and inconsistency in championing human rights and dignity. While the world claims to protect life and freedom, it fails to apply these principles consistently, as seen in practices like abortion, euthanasia, and arms proliferation.

How does the speaker describe the world's view of human life?

The speaker describes the world's view of human life as being based on economic value and utility. People are often treated as expendable if they are considered unproductive, such as the elderly, sick, or disabled.

What are some examples of the world's contradictions, according to the speaker?

The speaker mentions contradictions like advocating for human rights while promoting abortion, euthanasia, and the death penalty. The world also spends billions on armaments while claiming there is no money for healthcare or alleviating poverty.

How does the Church differ from the world in its stance on human life?

The Church promotes the sanctity of life at every stage, from conception to death, and treats every human life as sacred. Unlike the world, the Church upholds these values consistently, protecting all human lives, regardless of economic status or health.

What does the speaker say about the concept of freedom in the world today?

The speaker critiques the concept of freedom promoted by the world, claiming it is not true freedom. The world promotes freedoms that lead to harm, such as the freedom to spread fake news, glorify violence, and destroy families. The speaker asserts that this freedom is often selective and can lead to discrimination against those who disagree.

What is the speaker's stance on euthanasia and IVF?

The speaker opposes euthanasia and IVF practices that discard embryos. Euthanasia, according to the speaker, is often justified on the grounds of mercy but is also used to eliminate those deemed unproductive or disabled. IVF, on the other hand, is seen as valuing one life over others by discarding unused embryos.

How does the speaker explain the issue of poverty in the world?

The speaker argues that poverty is not caused by a lack of resources but by waste and mismanagement. For example, tons of food are destroyed each year due to oversupply, even in places like Singapore, yet people are still said to be starving. The problem, according to the speaker, lies in how the world values human life.

What does the speaker mean by the statement 'the world is not consistent'?

By saying 'the world is not consistent', the speaker points out the contradiction between the world's stated values and its actions. While the world claims to support human rights and dignity, its practices, such as promoting war and destruction, contradict these values.

What role does the speaker believe the Church plays in protecting human life?

The speaker believes the Church plays a crucial role in protecting human life by consistently advocating for the dignity of every person, regardless of their economic value, health, or stage of life. The Church's teachings uphold the sanctity of life in a way the world fails to do.

What is the ultimate message the speaker is trying to convey about integrity and happiness?

The speaker emphasizes that true happiness and integrity come from living in accordance with consistent, ethical principles. Those who stand for life and true freedom, without hypocrisy or compromise, will find fulfillment, whereas those who manipulate these principles for convenience or gain will not.