The U.S. Catholic bishops approved one of the strongest pro-life statements ever issued by the national conference in an attempt to end the scandal of pro-abortion Catholic politicians.

"Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics" was approved by a two-thirds majority of the bishops at their semi-annual meeting in Washington. Although it stopped short of
publicly excommunicating Catholic politicians who openly support abortion and other threats to human life, the bishops pledged to confront these politicians privately in an attempt to change their
minds.

The statement — which took two years to write — was applauded by pro-life leaders across the country, although some were disappointed it was not released prior to the November elections.
Cardinal Bernard Law, outgoing chairman of the bishops’ pro-life committee, said the timing was intentionally delayed because the bishops wanted it to be a "pastoral statement" rather than a
political referendum.

The cardinal said he hopes the statement will assist the bishops as pastors and shepherds of the faith. "It might be of help to American Catholics as they attempt to live the Gospel of life," he said.

The bishops said that some Catholic elected officials have adopted the argument that while they are personally opposed to abortion, they cannot force their religious beliefs onto the wider society. "This is seriously mistaken on several key counts," the bishops said. "Democracy is not served by silence.  Most Americans would recognize the contradiction in the statement, While I am personally
opposed to slavery or racism or sexism I cannot force my personal view on the rest of society.  Real pluralism depends on people of conviction struggling vigorously to advance their beliefs by
every ethical and legal means at their disposal.

"American Catholic have long sought to assimilate into U.S. cultural life," the bishops said. "But in assimilating, we have too often been digested. We have been changed by our culture too much, and we have changed it not enough. If we are leaven, we must bring to our culture the whole Gospel, which is the Gospel of life and joy. That is our vocation as believers."

The bishops said Catholic public officials and citizens alike need the virtues of courage, honesty and humility to successfully complete God’s will. They urged Catholic officials who depart from Church
teaching on the sacredness of human life to consider the consequences for their spiritual well being, as well as the scandal they risk by leading others into serious sin.

"No public official, especially one claiming to be a faithful and serious Catholic, can responsibly advocate for or actively support direct attacks on innocent human life."

The bishops commended Catholic officials who display courage and determination to use their positions of leadership to promote respect for all human life. The bishops pledged a sincere
willingness to start meeting privately with Catholic politicians and public officials in their dioceses and archdioceses who openly disregard Church teaching on the inviolability of the human person and indirectly collude in the taking of innocent life. "A private call to conversion should always be the first step in dealing with these leaders," they said.

"We cannot simultaneously commit ourselves to human rights and progress while eliminating or marginalizing the weakest among us. Nor can we practice the Gospel of life only as a private piety.
American Catholics must live it vigorously and publicly, as a matter of national leadership and witness, or we will not live it at all."

Send a letter (preferable) or an email to your  Senators and representatives using the Directory at the Congressional Email Directory.  Point and click here to surf to their web site.

Copyright ©1998 Arlington Catholic Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.

This article was published in the Arlington Catholic Herald,
200 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 607, Arlington, VA 22203; Vol 23, No 47;
dated Nov. 26, 1998, on page 4.
E-mail: letters@catholicherald.com
Fax: 703/524-2782;
Editorial: 703/841-2590;
Advertising: 703/841-2594;
Circulation: 703/841-2565

A note from the Web Master:

It is noteworthy and honorable that some folks are willing to stand up for a ban on Partial-Birth Abortion.  Let us not forget that ordinary everyday Abortion is also murder.  We must understand that murder is murder no matter the method.  Because one method of abortion seems to be horrible does not justify the other methods.  We should be horrified and sickened by any Abortion regardless of the method.  The Fifth Commandment spells it out clearly: "Thou shalt not kill."  A fetus is a person, a human being with a God given soul.  Imagine the pain the Lord must feel when any Abortion occurs.  Please contact both of your Senators and Representative, via letter or phone,  to let them know how horrified you are that Abortions are legal and to stop Partial-Birth Abortions and all other Abortions as soon as possible.
(Apparently they do not respond to email therefore it is better to write or telephone.)

Return to Pro Life Corner
Page Master: bandwidth@erols.com 
 

---


Todays Date: