ARGENTINA, Sr. M. Virginia Perera. On Saturday May 15th, the Father Joseph Kentenich Commission on Bioethics was held at New Schoenstatt in Buenos Aires, Argentina; it was the twelfth bioethics workshop. This discussion focused on technology as a cultural phenomenon, as indicated by His Holiness Benedict XVI, which today focuses unilaterally “how” to do things without assessing either the “why” the “for”.
The workshop was attended by almost 100 people, almost all of who are professionals in science, health care, and education. Bishop Luis Stockler of the Diocese of Quilmes participated in some of the lectures in the morning in which he was interested because of the timeliness of the topics especially in those, which referred to research with human genes.
With a reflection from Father Kentenich on the importance of education to direct technical progress, Sister Elisa Monachesi, Provincial Superior of the Secular Institute of Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary inaugurated the Seminar.
Responsibility
Then Sister Dr. Elena Lugo explained how actual technology is not as neutral to values as intended, but promotes a fragmented view of reality and manipulation, which comes from one track to control thinking while promoting having the power and pleasure.
Then several distinguished scholars exposed the impact of technology in different areas of life. Dr. Damasia Becú, a researcher, discussed this impact on the exploration of the genetic heritage of human beings that is presented as a “Pandora’s box” creating uncertainty and therefore requiring careful responsibility in respecting the genetic integrity of human beings.
Dr. Richaud, an educator from Minzier, showed with scientific rigor how the technological environment could impact the people’s neurological development in childhood and throughout their life.
Dr. Vincent Gutierrez, who has been president of the National Academy of Medicine, showed to what extent the process of dying has been taken over by technology. He concluded his presentation by describing the spirituality of the Covenant of Love as the true attitude towards death and highlighting the attitude exemplified by the conformity and acceptance of Sister Emilie Engel before her own death.
Bioethics as a compass
Dr. Hugo Obiglio, a distinguished physician and member of the Pontifical Academy for Life, revealed how the manipulation of language is a technique that is used to mask the truth and promote ideologies such as gender and other offenses against the culture of life.
Dr. Oscar Beltran, philosopher, brilliantly described the historical evolution of how humanity creates technology which can be used to assist, improve, and correct nature but unfortunately also which violates and threatens the harmony between man and nature.
Finally Sr. Dr. Elena Lugo raised bioethics as a compass that guides the way to answer the questions of why technology should be founded on the dignity, integrity, and significance of the person. From this perspective, bioethics helps to restore the intrinsic value of nature: its intelligibility before human reason, which can comprehend the depth, thus capturing the truth in the fullest and total sense, which includes an indicator of its true good.
In favor for the culture of life
During the day, Holy Mass was celebrated in honor of the Virgin, Fountain of Life, and the participants had the opportunity to have a guided visit to the Shrine and the Church of God the Father.
The workshop served to establish strategic contacts that promise to promote the development of the Father Joseph Kentenich Commission on Bioethics in favor for the culture of life.
The Schoenstatt Sisters would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have been entrusted with the XII Bioethics Workshop as it represents a cooperative effort of all the Sisters in New Schoenstatt and the many lay people who collaborate with them.
