Thursday, December 11, 2008

The Dignity of Persons

On a quick news-note, just a reminder that early tomorrow brings the release of Dignitas personae -- the much-awaited CDF instruction on modern developments in bioethics.

An updating of 1987's Donum vitae, the text -- explicitly approved and ordered, as all definitive Holy Office statements are, by the Pope -- will have its formal unveiling at a Vatican press conference led by the congregation's new secretary, the Spanish Jesuit Luis Ladaria, and the head of the Pontifical Academy for Life Rino Fisichella, archbishops both.

At Roman noon (6am in the East), the doc will appear; if precedent holds, it'll be posted at that hour on the USCCB homepage.

Earlier today, the Holy See rolled out B16's reflection for the World Day of Peace, established in 1968 by Paul VI and always observed on New Year's Day.

2009's theme: "Fighting Poverty to Build Peace."

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