Today, Leo XIV issued new statutes for the Pontifical Academy for Life. These will be in place for five years.
The Academy now consists of a Presidency, a Central Office, Members (Accademici) and Supporters (Sostenitori).
The introduction of supporters is the main structural novelty.
Membership Without "Religious Discrimination"
Leo XIV largely confirms the destruction that occurred during Francis's reign in 2016.
At that time, Francis abolished the requirement for members to sign a formal pro-life oath.
He broadened the concept of 'pro-life' to encompass ecology, migration and global health.
Non-Catholics, as well as people with different bioethical views, could become members. Article 6 §5(a) explicitly states that members are chosen regardless of religion.
Paper Tiger
As before, Article 6 §5(e) still reaffirms that members can be removed for publicly contradicting Church teaching. However, these statutes are not enforced.
Two notable figures are the current president, Monsignor Renzo Pegoraro, who expressed openness to contraception in certain cases in a 2022 interview, and Mariana Mazzucato, who has publicly supported abortion and recently spoke at the plenary assembly.
Leo XIV Always For "Broader Definition" of 'Pro-Life'
In October 2023, Bishop Robert Prevost expressed his support for the 'consistent ethic of life', also known as the 'seamless garment'.
This framework links abortion with issues such as the death penalty, poverty, migration, and ecology, presenting them as part of a unified moral vision. It was developed by the pro-homosexual Chicago Cardinal Joseph Bernardin and has weakened the anti-abortion position through inflation.
Picture: Vatican Media, #newsVrnhywqfry