Happy Easter!

Thank you for your kind invitation to join you at your Spring Plenary Assembly. It is always nice for me to be with you.

Introduction: the Gift of Life

At Easter, we celebrate Jesus' victory over sin and death. Jesus suffered and died so that we might have life, and have life in its fullness - both a fuller and happier human life and life forever with God.

Several quotes - old and new - come to mind.

1 John 4:9: "God's love for us was revealed when God sent into the world his only Son so that we could have life through him."

St Irenaeus, AH IV, 20, 7: "The glory of God is man fully alive, and the life of man is the vision of God. If the revelation of God through creation already brings life to all living beings on earth, how much more will the manifestation of the Father by the Word bring life to those who see God."

Pope John Paul II, Post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles laici, "On the Vocation and the Mission of the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the Modern World," Dec. 30, 1988, No. 38b: "The inviolability of the person, which is a reflection of the absolute inviolability of God, finds its primary and fundamental expression in the inviolability of human life. Above all, the common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights - for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture - is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination."

Sr Elizabeth A. Johnson C.S.J., Professor of Theology at Fordham University: "A flourishing humanity on a thriving Earth in an evolving universe, all together filled with the glory of God - such is the theological vision and praxis we are being called to in this critical age of Earth's distress."

In this Easter Octave, I would like to offer some reflections on "life issues" - a phrase I will use to encompass diverse realities such as economic prosperity and social development, marriage and divorce, birth rate, abandoned children, abortion, suicide and homosexuality. I will also offer some brief reflections on ways the Church in Taiwan might respond to these challenges.

In addition, on your agenda are some items which involve the work of the Nunciature. I will conclude these reflections with some comments on some of these items.

Economic overview

Taiwan ranks as one of the world's most highly developed countries. If Taiwan had been included in the United Nations Development Programme's 2011 Human Development Report - focusing on life expectancy, literacy, education, standards of living and quality of life - Taiwan would rank 22 out of 193 countries - in the top 11% of countries.

The International Monetary Fund, using the most recent figures available from 2008, ranks Taiwan GDP 26/179 countries (per capita GDP 42/179), purchasing power parity 19/227 (per capita purchasing power parity 32/227). In 2010, the GDP real growth rate for Taiwan was 4/215 countries.

According to the Global Competitiveness Report 2010-2011, Taiwan ranked 13th in terms of competitiveness among 139 economies surveyed by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum. Taiwan earned high marks in the areas of infrastructure health, higher education, personnel resources, market efficiency and innovation. It was among the top 20 countries in nine of the 12 indices used to rate economies.

In general, Taiwan is among the top 25 countries of the world. Taiwan is a highly developed country and it continues to show dynamic growth.

Like many developed countries, Taiwan shows some trends which are a source of concern. Allow me to examine a few issues, bringing together a few facts and figures.

Marriage and divorce

The emotional and individualist reduction of love, prevailing in present-day public culture, has led to a critical situation that makes education for love and for marriage very difficult.

Fewer and fewer people are entering marriage. In the 1980s, Taiwan's crude marriage rate fell from 9.29% to 7.95%; in the 1990s, it fell from 7.95% to 7.63%; in the 2000s, it fell again from 7.63 % to 7.13 %; in 2009, the marriage rate was only 5.07% - a record low.

More and more marriages are ending in divorce. In 1981, the crude divorce rate was 0.83%; only 9% of marriages ended in divorce. Last year, the crude divorce rate was 2.46 %. Approximately, 35% of marriages in Taiwan ended in divorce. Reportedly, this is Asia's highest divorce rate.

Moreover, in 2010, there were 560,000 single-parent families out of a total of 7,414,000 families; 7.5% of families in Taiwan are single-parent families. A recent survey in Taiwan revealed the 46% of juvenile delinquents are young people from homes broken by separation or divorce. As we know, broken families can cause many social problems.

Birth Rate

As we know, Taiwan's birth rate has been dropping and is now among the lowest - if not the lowest - in the world. In 2010, the birthrate stood at 7.21 per 1000 people, according to official government statistics, compared to the global average of more than 20 births per 1000 people, according to the United Nations. In 2010, there were 166,886 babies born in Taiwan - a record low. And the average age of motherhood is between 30 and 31 years old.

In 2011, there was an increase: 196,627 babies were born, and already in January and February 2012, 32,796 babies have been born. But after the Centennial celebrations and the Dragon Year, the birth rate will probably return to what it had been.

In short, Taiwan is facing an aging population with long term consequences for society. Serious problems will be seen in many sectors of society, ranging from the education system to health care. The Church will also suffer with fewer members. Less numerous families also mean significantly fewer vocations to priesthood and religious life.

Government agencies have already come up with policies such as birth subsides, educational allowances and pregnancy and maternity leave to encourage people to have children, but these policies have not had an effect. A new proposal by the Council of Labor Affairs offers a year of unpaid pregnancy leave but it is unlikely to be of much use because many eligible women will hesitate to take advantage of the new program out of fear that they will not have a job to return to after their maternity. If a couple decides to have a child, most of the time both parents will have to work to pay for child care.

Even with the recent government subsidies offered in an attempt to increase the nation's birth rate, not earning enough money seems to be the main reason why couples are unwilling to have children.

Abandoned Children

Within the past five years, in a population of 24 million, a total of 2,407 babies and children, equaling 1.3 children per day, have been abandoned by their parents because they cannot afford to raise their babies. The number is rising each year. The average age of an abandoned child is one year old and the average age of an abandoned baby is one month old. These children have to wait for at least six years before they are placed with families that are willing to adopt them. The reason why it takes so long for the babies to be adopted is either the child is sick or his or her parents are still undecided on whether to give away the baby.

Abortion

Abortion was legalized in Taiwan in 1984 under the Agencies and Health Care Act. In Taiwan, there are more abortions than live births.

The Ministry of Health reported 100,000 abortions per year for married couples and another 100,000 abortions per year for unmarried mothers.

Unofficial data from the medical profession reports 300,000 abortions per year. Some activists hold that there could be as many as 500,000 abortions per year. This is a very sad number.

According to the recent investigation results by the Department of Health's Bureau of Health Promotion, an abnormal balance between male and female births exists. In 1980 the chorionic villus sampling (CVS) - a medical procedure that can determine fetal gender - was introduced in Taiwan.
Since that time, it would seem that parental preference for male over female offspring is leading to sex selective abortions. Nature maintains the ratio of boys to girls at birth at around 105 boys to 100 girls. But in Taiwan, the ratio is approximately 110 boys to 100 girls. This means that men will have problems finding a spouse of opposite gender. Also, gender inequality may perpetuate discrimination against women.

The Bureau of Health Promotion's warns that hospitals carrying out fetal gender tests or abortions based on fetal gender will face punishment.
Regardless, most women can easily find out the sex of the fetus from ultrasounds and terminate the pregnancy if an undesired sex is indicated.

The Taiwan Department of Health most recent statistics show that almost 20% of women between 20 and 44 years of age have had abortions and the number of abortions is on the rise.

However, although regulations for legalized abortions are still very strict, many people currently use abortion as a contraceptive means. Most of those asking for abortions are couples who already have children; some ask for abortion to escape the stigma of unmarried pregnancy. Whenever there is even the slightest chance of some abnormality, medical personnel counsel women to abort.

The Executive Yuan has proposed an amendment to the current abortion law that would stipulate a 3-day "think it over" period for women seeking abortion. Religious groups from all faiths support the new bill because of its limitations on abortions. Many pro-life groups have lobbied the government to extend the "think it over" period to 7 days.

Suicide

In recent years, suicide has been one of the top 10 causes of death in Taiwan, with the number of suicide cases at more than 4,000 per year, affecting 24,000 family members. Fortunately, the number of suicides is decreasing. The suicide rate has declined from a peak of 19.3 persons per 100,000 in 2006 to 17.6 in 2009 and 16.8 in 2010. The suicide rate seems to grow whenever the economic situation is bad or when unemployment is high.

In 2009 suicide was the second-largest cause of death among youth, accounting for 6.3 out of every 100,000 deaths. The most common methods used by adolescents to commit suicide were wrist slitting and taking sleeping pills or sedatives, since sedatives are easy to buy.

The primary reason for suicide by people between ages 15 to 24 was due to "emotional and interpersonal relations," adding that less than 3 percent of young people committing suicide were forced to do so by academic stress and 5 percent due to mood problems.

Although Taiwan's overall suicide rate is decreasing, geriatric suicide (in persons above the age of 65) is increasing.

The Executive Yuan established the Taiwan Suicidal Prevention Center in 2005 to provide 24- hour hotline services.

The Taipei Lifetime Association has been expanding its "e-SOS" emergency response system to other cities and countries hoping to reduce the nation's suicide rate. The Taipei Lifetime Association handled 15,000 calls per day on average and has helped over 100,000 people get through difficult times since it was established in 1969.

The Taiwanese Society of Suicidology (TSOS) has prepared seven measures designed to help young people ease their stress and maintain their mental and physical health including listening to music, doing exercise and drawing.

Homosexuality

The Church's teaching on homosexuality is very clear and positive. In contrast, the "militant homosexual agenda" is advancing.

Because of what are described as misunderstandings and prejudices against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transvestites (LGBT) in Taiwan, the Ministry of Education announced that gay topics will find a place in elementary and secondary textbooks.

Taiwan hosts the largest so-called "Gay Pride Parade" in Asia.

The Executive Yuan in 2003 drafted a bill to legalize same sex marriages and allow homosexual couples to adopt children, which would make it the first country in Asia to do so. The law has yet to be passed, but there is increasing pressure to do so.

Our response:

As Pope Benedict XVI said to you during your last ad limina visit on 12 December 2008: "The family, as you know, is that "first and vital cell": the prototype for every level of society (cf. Apostolicam Actuositatem, 11). Your recent Pastoral Letter Social Concern and Evangelization underscores the Church's need to engage actively in the promotion of family life. Founded on an irrevocable covenant, the family leads people to discover goodness, beauty and truth, so that they may perceive their unique destiny and learn how to contribute to the building up of a civilization of love. Your deep concern for the good of families and society as a whole, my Brothers, moves you to assist couples in preserving the indissolubility of their marital promises. Never tire in promoting just civil legislation and policies that protect the sacredness of marriage. Safeguard this sacrament from all that can harm it, especially the deliberate taking of life in its most vulnerable stages.

What are some practical measures the Church can take?

First, we must not hesitate to teach and preach.

In addition to our parishes, we must use our educational institutions.

We must use our hospitals and clinics and social service institutions.

Pope John Paul II's "Theology of the Body" offers a positive understanding human sexuality. Ignorance of the truth of love is causing a great deal of suffering and is breaking many lives. The Church, our families, schools and parishes, with the very special encouragement of pastors, must help young people to avoid ignorance of such a decisive truth for their lives and overcome the negative influence of an environment marked by so many disorienting forces and currents. Proclaiming Jesus' Gospel regarding marriage and family is one of the most beautiful aspects of the new evangelization and of youth. The current painful situation impels us, but most of all the love of Christ and of young people impels us.

We must help people to understand and appreciate the beauty and value of life.

We must pray fervently for an end to abortion and work toward that end - even if the task seems impossible. As some Bishops have done in some countries, we must tell women contemplating abortion that the Church loves them and their unborn child. If the woman does not feel capable of caring for the child, the Church must find ways to offer help, without excessive bureaucracy and without demeaning the woman.

We must find concrete ways to support families and family life.

With regard to education, I think that the Catholic Church can fund tuition payments for Catholic day-care, elementary, high school and university education for children from Catholic families. Families regularly attending Church and participating in parish life should not have to pay tuition at our Catholic institutions.

We must find ways to work with adherents of other religions, especially Buddhists, and other people of good will, in order to advance a culture of life.

No doubt you, together as a Bishops' Conference and individually in your own dioceses, can find creative and effective ways to address these issues.

Other items:

In Acts 14, St Luke recounts how Paul and Barnabas gather the faithful at Antioch and they reported how God had "opened the door of faith to the Gentiles." Pope Benedict has borrowed this phrase, "the door of faith", "porta fidei", for the name and theme of his letter announcing the Year of Faith which will begin this autumn. This coincides with the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I am confident that you have studied the Holy Father's letter and will find good ways to celebrate the Year of Faith in Taiwan.

In May 2011, Cardinal Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, addressed to the Presidents of Bishops' Conferences regarding the issue of sexual abuse of minors by the clergy. In order to facilitate correct application of the norms contained in last year's Motu Proprio Sacramentum sanctitatis, each Bishops' Conference is asked to prepare Guidelines to assist the Bishops to follow clear and coordinated procedures in dealing with instances of abuse. These Guidelines must be submitted to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith before May 2012.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has created a new web domain in addition to the already existing access from the official website of the Holy See in order to make its documents available. The major documents of the Congregation are available in eight languages. There is a general list of all texts organized chronologically, and three subgroups of these texts, divided into doctrinal, disciplinary and sacramental categories.

In March 2012, from the Congregation for Catholic Education, Cardinal Grocholewski wrote to Archbishop Hung to thank for assistance during the Cardinal's visit to Taipei and to encourage work on the Norms of Application of the Apostolic Constitution Ex corde ecclesiae; in this regard, the Cardinal writes that a commission should be established to work on drafting suitable norms which should include an article concerning the integration of Catholic religious instruction in the curriculum design of the Church's institutions of higher learning; in addition, the statutes of St Robert Bellarmine Faculty of Theology must be revised. Our education cooperation agreement has been sent to the Legislative Yuan, but has not yet been approved.

This year there are a total of 51 Mainland students in Taiwan, including five diocesan seminarians. Next year, the Faculty of Theology will admit 23 sisters and 8 scholastics and priests from international religious congregations. In addition to the religious, the Faculty will also admit nine diocesan priests. After discussion, it was decided that no seminarians will be accepted in the immediate future. Archbishop Hung has graciously offered a building in Sanchong for a residence and will pay for the building's renovation. The initial design was to cost NTD 15 million, but has been scaled down to a cost of NTD 7 million. An issue is the funding for diocesan priests. The total cost per priest is NTD 250,000 per person per year. During vacation periods, I hope that the Church in Taiwan can show a special care for these Mainland students. With regard to the diocesan priests, I ask you Bishops to show special concern.

The Secretariat of State has approved in principle the renovation of the Nunciature - either a renovation of the current structure, or demolition of the current structure and building a new structure. The Secretariat of State requested a study of the integrity of the current building. The cost for this is NTD 300,000. This expenditure has not yet been approved by the Secretariat of State. Meanwhile, I have been investigating places where the Nunciature may be temporarily relocated.

In conversations with diplomatic colleagues, the issue of religious freedom has been raised. Religious freedom in Taiwan is generally excellent, although there are a few areas of concern. 1. Free movement of religious personnel. There is a continuing problem of visas for missionaries, especially lay missionaries. 2. Foreign domestic workers are not entitled to a day off, and therefore cannot fulfill their religious obligations. 3. We cannot teach Catholic religious courses in our Catholic educational institutions. 4. In our Catholic institutions, we cannot dismiss staff in conflict with the teaching of the Church.

In February, I was invited to give a presentation to "new missionaries" - some of whom have been in Taiwan for many years. I asked participants what are their "dreams" for the Church in Taiwan. There were good comments and responses. 1. The Camillians are inviting Vietnamese students to St Mary's Nursing College; the Church in Taiwan can welcome foreign students. 2. The government's definition of who can be admitted as a missionary worker must be enlarged to include lay people, who have the right and the obligation to preach Jesus; lay ministry must be encouraged. 3. The Church in Taiwan must be more person-centered; there must be greater emphasis on working together; the structure of the Church in Taiwan is too heavy and bureaucratic. 4. The Church in Taiwan does not take a stand on important issues, such as abortion; there needs to be a common vision and pastoral approach. 5. Church institutions should foster local vocations to allow the Taiwan Church to stand more on its own.

Thank you for your kind attention, and may the Holy Spirit guide your deliberations.