Culture of Life Why Do Catholics ...? What does the Catechism
say about health? BY The Editors July 17-30, 2011 Issue | Posted
7/8/11 at 2:37 PM The Catechism addresses the topic “Respect for
Health” in paragraphs 2288-2291: “Life and physical health are
precious gifts entrusted to us by God. We must take reasonable
care of them, taking into account the needs of others and the
common good. “Concern for the health of its citizens requires
that society help in the attainment of living conditions that
allow them to grow and reach maturity: food and clothing,
housing, health care ... “If morality requires respect for the
life of the body, it does not make it an absolute value. It
rejects a neo-pagan notion that tends to promote the cult of the
body, to sacrifice everything for its sake, to idolize physical
perfection and success at sports. By its selective preference of
the strong over the weak, such a conception can lead to the
perversion of human relationships. “The virtue of temperance
disposes us to avoid eve