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Should we focus just on abortion?

On January 22, 1973, the US Supreme Court issued the Roe vs. Wade decision, which opened the door to an abortion-on-demand policy in the United States. Churches and other organizations nationwide observe this sad date each year. Many preachers who do not address abortion at other times of the year do preach about it on this occasion. Along with homilies, there are also many prayer services and other parish activities conducted.

The idea often surfaces, however, that pro-life homilies and activities must address all “life issues” from conception to natural death. Certainly, the Church embraces – and Priests for Life affirms – a “consistent ethic of life,” properly understood. In other words, life is sacred at every stage, and we must be concerned about every “life issue.” We also agree that when preaching about abortion, we should place the issue in the context of the consistent ethic – that is to say, we should point out that life is sacred from conception to natural death and at every stage and condition in between.

But that does not mean that it is somehow inappropriate to devote an entire homily to abortion, or to have a pro-life commemorative service or activity exclusively in honor of the tens of millions of children who have been killed by abortion. When the US Bishops write about the consistent ethic of life, they say the following:

“Among important issues involving the dignity of human life with which the Church is concerned, abortion necessarily plays a central role. Abortion, the direct killing of an innocent human being, is always gravely immoral (The Gospel of Life, no. 57); its victims are the most vulnerable and defenseless members of the human family. It is imperative that those who are called to serve the least among us give urgent attention and priority to this issue of justice.
”This focus and the Church's commitment to a consistent ethic of life complement one another. A consistent ethic of life, which explains the Church's teaching at the level of moral principle—far from diminishing concern for abortion and euthanasia or equating all issues touching on the dignity of human life—recognizes instead the distinctive character of each issue while giving each its proper place within a coherent moral vision” (USCCB, Pastoral Plan for Pro-life Activities, 2001).

Cardinal Joseph Bernardin is often invoked for his firm articulation of the consistent ethic of life. Yet he, too, make it clear that it is perfectly legitimate to focus on a particular issue, as long as the overall context is not lost or the linkage with other issues is not obscured. This aspect of the late Cardinal’s teaching seems to be forgotten easily. A few excerpts of his actual words follow:

"A consistent ethic does not say everyone in the Church must do all things, but it does say that as individuals and groups pursue one issue, whether it is opposing abortion or capital punishment, the way we oppose one threat should be related to support for a systemic vision of life. It is not necessary or possible for every person to engage in each issue, but it is both possible and necessary for the Church as a whole to cultivate a conscious explicit connection among the several issues" (A Consistent Ethic of Life: Continuing the Dialogue, The William Wade Lecture Series, St. Louis University, March 11, 1984).

And on another occasion he asked, "Does this mean that everyone must do everything? No! There are limits of time energy and competency. There is a shape to every individual vocation. People must specialize, groups must focus their energies. The consistent ethic does not deny this. But it does say something to the Church: It calls us to a wider witness to life than we sometimes manifest in our separate activities" (Address at Seattle University, March 2, 1986).

He also acknowledged on numerous occasions the primacy of the right to life, as the two following quotes make clear:

“The fundamental human right is to life—from the moment of conception until death. It is the source of all other rights, including the right to health care" (The Consistent Ethic of Life and Health Care Systems, Foster McGaw Triennial Conference, Loyola University of Chicago, May 8, 1985).

On Respect Life Sunday, 1 October 1989, Cardinal Bernardin issued a statement entitled "Deciding for Life," in which he said, "Not all values, however, are of equal weight. Some are more fundamental than others. On this Respect Life Sunday, I wish to emphasize that no earthly value is more fundamental than human life itself. Human life is the condition for enjoying freedom and all other values. Consequently, if one must choose between protecting or serving lesser human values that depend upon life for their existence and life itself, human life must take precedence. Today the recognition of human life as a fundamental value is threatened. Nowhere is this clearer than in the case of elective abortion. At present in our country this procedure takes the lives of over 4,000 unborn children every day and over 1.5 million each year."

Therefore, as Roe vs. Wade observances occur this month, and as the message of life is proclaimed anew, let nobody hesitate to give to the abortion tragedy the “urgent attention and priority” (US bishops) that it deserves, and let nobody invoke Cardinal Bernardin as a reason for their hesitation.