The president of the pontifical academy stated on Italian television: "I believe that at this point, Law 194 (abortion) is a pillar of our society." The spokesperson for the Pontifical Academy for Life subsequently stated that the word "pillar" had been taken out of context.
The Pontifical Academy for Life clarified on Monday remarks made by the academy's president on Italian television, in which he stated that the law legalizing abortion in Italy was a "pillar of society."
The remarks by Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia had been taken out of context, a spokesperson indicated in a statement sent to CNA upon request.
"The intention of this statement was not to make a value judgment on the law, but to affirm that it is practically impossible to abolish Law 194, as it is now a structural part of the relevant legislation," explained Fabrizio Mastrofini.
"There is therefore much to be said about the quality of this 'pillar'."
In his interview on Italian public television Rai Tre, Archbishop Paglia stated: "I believe that at this stage, Law 194 is a pillar of our society."
Italy's "Law 194," established in 1978, made abortion legal for any reason within the first 90 days of pregnancy and, subsequently, for specific reasons upon a doctor's recommendation.
Archbishop Paglia told Italian television: "In my opinion, and I have written this, I would like more emphasis to be placed on the part that is rarely discussed, namely the right to motherhood, to see our country grow, in the face of the drama of a completely dramatic generational imbalance."
The prelate added that he "urges [people] to look with confidence at a country that wants to live in freedom, development, and progress, and I think the birthrate crisis is a problem we have unfortunately not reflected on, and it is already late."
Archbishop Paglia's remarks drew sharp criticism, with one Italian commentator writing in La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana: "We have hit rock bottom. We are at a point of no return, at ground zero of morality, faith, reasonableness, and coherence. We have the president of an academy founded to protect life who is protecting a law that destroys life."
A pro-life spokesperson also criticized the archbishop's choice of words.
"We do not understand how a law that suppresses innocent and defenseless human lives can be a 'pillar' of society," said Jacob Coghe of Pro Vita & Famiglia.
The spokesperson for the Pontifical Academy for Life described some of the reactions to the remarks as "more than specious, even insulting." Mastrofini also stated that the word "pillar" had been taken out of context.
"Archbishop Paglia, in the same interview, strongly emphasized the urgency of promoting the part of the law concerning the protection and promotion of motherhood," the academy's statement continued.
"That the law can, or even must, be improved towards a more complete protection of the unborn child is more than desirable, while taking care to avoid the risk of worsening the situation, as has unfortunately happened in some cases."
In the past, the academy's statement clarified, Archbishop Paglia had spoken "of the protection and promotion of life at all stages of development (from conception to death) and in all situations," such as "children, women, prisoners, those condemned to death, migrants, the elderly."
The Pontifical Academy for Life has recently been the subject of controversy regarding a book and statements made on social media.
At the end of June, the academy's official Twitter account began promoting a book published by the Vatican, which synthesizes a 2021 seminar on ethics, during which a participant discussed "the possible legitimacy of contraception in some cases."
The pontifical academy indicated in an August 8 press release that the seminar addressed "all questions related to the ethics of life (...) including contraception and marital sexual morality." Euthanasia was also a topic of the seminar.
Some of the promotional messages for the seminar and the subsequent book were criticized by media and by Catholic Twitter users who stated they presented erroneous or confusing information about the Church's teachings.
The Pontifical Academy for Life was founded by Pope John Paul II and Professor Jérôme Lejeune in 1994. Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Paglia as president of the academy in 2016. The institution is dedicated to promoting the Church's consistent life ethic.
In November 2016, the academy faced controversy after Archbishop Paglia removed the requirement for academy members to sign a declaration pledging to defend life in conformity with the Church's Magisterium.
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Since the legalization of abortion in Italy, it is estimated that over 6 million children have been killed.
This article was originally published by the National Catholic Register ( Article Link ). It is republished and translated with the author's permission.