The statement then refers to comments made by Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, the president and chancellor of the Pontifical Academy for Life, announcing the appointments.
Newsroom (19/10/2022 8:42 PM Gaudium Press) — The Pontifical Academy for Life issued a statement Wednesday defending the recent appointment of an outspoken advocate for abortion rights because members are chosen to contribute to “fruitful interdisciplinary, intercultural, and interreligious dialogue.”
An Italian-American economist and professor at University College London, Mariana Mazzucato, was among seven academics Pope Francis appointed on October 15 to serve five-year terms with the academy.
On several occasions, Mazzucato shared her pro-abortion views on Twitter when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
The statement from the Pontifical Academy for Life’s communications office was sent to journalists covering the Vatican.
“Fabrizio Mastrofini, of the Pontifical Academy for Life, asks me to share this message in which he explains the controversy regarding the recent appointments,” it says.
The statement then refers to comments made by Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, the president and chancellor of the Pontifical Academy for Life, announcing the appointments.
“Consider this phrase above all: ‘it is important that women and men with skills in various disciplines and from different contexts enter the Pontifical Academy for Life, for a constant and fruitful interdisciplinary, intercultural and interreligious dialogue,'” the press release reads.
“This is why among the academics there are also non-Catholic people: two rabbis, a Shinto academician, Muslims, an Anglican theologian. The Pontifical Academy for Life is a study and research body. So the debate and dialogue take place between people of different backgrounds,” the statement continues.
The press release notes that any documents published by the Pontifical Academy for Life go through a vetting process.
“When the Pontifical Academy for Life publishes documents (as in the case of the 5 Notes on Covid-19), then the documents are sent to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith before being published,” reads.
The statement also explains that Pope Francis nominated the members of the academy, who then made it through the selection process without any red flags being raised.
“All Academics are chosen from among scientists and experts of absolute importance, as Pope Francis reiterated in the Letter ‘Humana Communitas’ of 2019 to the Pontifical Academy for Life. The nominations of the Ordinary Academics are made by the Pope,” the statement reads.
“Therefore, before being nominated, the names proposed or reported go through a procedure that foresees the consultation of the Apostolic Nuncio and the Episcopal Conference of the countries where the Academics live and work. It also happened in this case and there were no problems,” the press release says.
– Raju Hasmukh with files from CNA
