Acta Benedicti Pp. XVI 97

social cohesion and dialogue. It is in the family that we become open to the

world and to life and, as I pointed out during my visit to Croatia, ''openness

to life is a sign of openness to the future''.4 In this context of openness to life,

I note with satisfaction the recent sentence of the Court of Justice of the

European Union forbidding patenting processes relative to human embryonic

stem cells, as well as the resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of

the Council of Europe condemning prenatal selection on the basis of sex.

More generally, and with particular reference to the West, I am convinced

that legislative measures which not only permit but at times even promote

abortion for reasons of convenience or for questionable medical motives

compromise the education of young people and, as a result, the future of

humanity.

Continuing our reflection, a similarly essential role in the development of

the person is played by educational institutions: these are the first instances

which cooperate with the family and they can hardly function properly

unless they share the same goals as the family. There is a need to

implement educational policies which ensure that schooling is available to

everyone and which, in addition to promoting the cognitive development of

the individual, show concern for a balanced personal growth, including

openness to the Transcendent. The Catholic Church has always been

particularly active in the field of education and schooling, making a valued

contribution alongside that of state institutions. It is my hope that this

contribution will be acknowledged and prized also by the legislation of the

various nations.

In this perspective. it is clear that an effective educational programme

also calls for respect for religious freedom. This freedom has individual,

collective and institutional dimensions. We are speaking of the first of

human rights, for it expresses the most fundamental reality of the person.

All too often, for various reasons, this right remains limited or is flouted. I

cannot raise this subject without first paying tribute to the memory of the

Pakistani Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, whose untiring battle for the rights of

minorities ended in his tragic death. Sadly, we are not speaking of an isolated

case. In many countries Christians are deprived of fundamental rights and

sidelined from public life; in other countries they endure violent attacks

against their churches and their homes. At times they are forced to leave

4 Homily at the Mass for the National Day of Croatians Catholic Families, Zagreb (5 June

2011).