Culture & Cosmos
Volume 3, Number 32 | March 15, 2006

Dear Colleague,

We report today on a pretty strong statement by three leading Prelates of the Catholic Church in response to a recent statement by Catholic Democrats in Congress.

Spread the word.

Yours sincerely,

Austin Ruse
President

Action Item: Read the bishops' statement here.

Leading Bishops Seem to Reject Statement of Catholic Democrats in Congress

 
By Mark Adams
 

 
     Three senior prelates in the American Catholic Church have responded to a recent statement on abortion issued by 55 Catholic Democrats in Congress. In part, the statement said, "We also need to reaffirm the Catholic Church's constant teaching that abortion is a grave violation of the most fundamental human right, the right to life that is inherent in all human beings, and that grounds every other right we possess."

     "Statement on Responsibilities of Catholics in Public Life" was signed by Baltimore Cardinal William H. Keeler, chairman of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro Life Activities; Washington Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, chairman of the USCCB Task Force on Catholic Bishops and Catholic Politicians; and Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Policy.

     The bishops were responding to the Democrat's "Statement of Principles" that was issued early in March which called abortion "undesirable" but fell short of calling for the overturning Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision mandating abortion on demand. The bishops called the release of the Representatives' statement "an opportunity to address several important points about the responsibilities of Catholics in public life."

     The Representatives' statement placed great emphasis on increasing funding for welfare and other government programs saying that doing so will reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies. The bishops said they "welcome the Representatives' recognition that Catholics in public life must act seriously and responsibly on many important moral issues" and called "priority for the poor, the protection of family life, the pursuit of justice and the promotion of peace . . . fundamental priorities of the Catholic moral tradition which cannot be ignored or neglected." But, they countered, "While it is always necessary to work to reduce the number of abortions by providing alternatives and help to vulnerable parents and children, Catholic teaching calls all Catholics to work actively to restrain, restrict and bring to an end the destruction of unborn human life."

     The bishops also responded to the Representatives' claim that they "seek the Church's guidance . . . but believe also in the primacy of conscience." The bishops replied that, "As Catholic legislators seek to act in accord with their own consciences, it is essential to remember that conscience must be consistent with fundamental moral principles. As members of the Church, all Catholics are obliged to shape our consciences in accord with the moral teaching of the Church."

     The Representatives approvingly quote Pope John Paul II's letter on the laity, Christifideles Laici and in what might be interpreted as a gentle tweak on the part of the bishops, they quote Christifideles Laici right back; "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. The human being is entitled to such rights, in every phase of development, from conception until natural death..."
Culture of Life Foundation
1413 K Street, NW, Suite 1000
Washington DC 20005
Phone: (202) 289-2500 Fax: (202) 289-2502 E-mail: clf@culture-of-life.org Website: http://www.culture-of-life.org