US bishops write president-elect; fundamental priority: defend right to life

CatholicCulture.org ^ | Jan. 16, 2009 | Francis Cardinal George for USCCB

[Salvation]

US bishops write president-elect; fundamental priority: defend right to life

Washington, Jan. 16, 2009 (CWNews.com) - The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops yesterday released a letter from Cardinal Francis George, the conference’s president, to President-elect Barack Obama. The letter, dated Tuesday, outlines the “principles and priorities that guide the [bishops’] public policy efforts” so as to offer “an agenda for dialogue and action.” A similar letter was sent to the vice president-elect and members of Congress.

The foundational priority, according to Cardinal George, is the protection of innocent human life. “Most fundamentally,” he writes, “we will work to protect the lives of the most vulnerable and voiceless members of the human family, especially unborn children and those who are disabled or terminally ill.“ He continues:

We will consistently defend the fundamental right to life from conception to natural death. Opposed to abortion as the direct killing of innocent human life, we will encourage one and all to seek common ground that will reduce the number of abortions in morally sound ways that affirm the dignity of pregnant women and their unborn children. We will oppose legislative and other measures to expand abortion. We will work to retain essential, widely supported policies which show respect for unborn life, protect the conscience rights of health care providers and other Americans, and prevent government funding and promotion of abortion. The Hyde amendment and other provisions which for many years have prevented federal funding of abortion have a proven record of reducing abortions. Efforts to force Americans to fund abortions with their tax dollars would pose a serious moral challenge and jeopardize the passage of essential health care reform.”

Cardinal George also discusses seven other priorities:

1. economic challenges: the bishops “support strong, prudent and effective measures,” “advocate a clear priority for poor families and vulnerable workers in the development and implementation of economic recovery measures,” and “support greater accountability and oversight to address irresponsible abuses of the system that contributed to the financial crisis.”
2. health care: the bishops “urge comprehensive action to ensure truly universal health care coverage which protects all human life including pre-natal life, and provides access for all, with a special concern for the poor. Any such legislation ought to respect freedom to choose by offering a variety of options and ensuring respect for the moral and religious convictions of patients and providers.”
3. international affairs: the bishops support “a responsible transition in an Iraq free of religious persecution,” “early, focused and persistent leadership to bring an end to violent conflict and a just peace in the Holy Land,” “US investments to overcome poverty, hunger and disease through increased and reformed foreign assistance,” and anti-HIV efforts that are “both effectively and morally appropriate.” In wording that accommodates different sides of the debate on climate change, Cardinal George adds, “Recognizing the complexity of climate change, we wish to be a voice for the poor and vulnerable in our country and around the world who will be the most adversely affected by any dramatic threats to the environment.”
4. immigration: the bishops call for “comprehensive reform” that is “based on respect for and implementation of the law,” defends “the rights and dignity of all peoples, recognizing that human dignity comes from God,” offers “a path to earned citizenship,” and is attentive to the impact of trade and development policies that foster emigration.
5. marriage: the bishops call for a recognition of marriage as “a faithful, exclusive, lifelong union of a man and a woman” that “must remain such in law. In a manner unlike any other relationship, marriage makes a unique and irreplaceable contribution to the common good of society, especially through the procreation and education of children. No other kinds of personal relationships can be justly made equivalent to the commitment of a man and a woman in marriage.”
6. education: the bishops reiterate their support for “initiatives which provide resources for all parents, especially those of modest means, to choose education which best address the needs of their children.”
7. empowerment of faith-based groups: “We will work with the Administration and Congress to strengthen these partnerships in ways that do not encourage government to abandon its responsibilities, and do not require religious groups to abandon their identity and mission.”

[fhayek]

I am most definitely pro life. I just think that writing a letter urging Obama to be more pro life is a complete waste of time.

[Gerish]

Good on the pro-life issue, but the other things could have remained out, especially “universal health care.” Do they even know what such a measure entails? A big mess!

[wagglebee]

Pinged from Terri Dailies

[the invisib1e hand]

I just think that writing a letter urging Obama to be more pro life is a complete waste of time.

And apparently others -- leaders -- do not. Which might explain why they are leaders and....

[fhayek]

Yeah, leaders alway know best. Neville Chamberlain was a leader, and he thought that he could make Hitler see the light. Bill Clinton was a leader, and he thought that he could reason with Yasser Arafat to bring about peace in the Middle East.

I think that pro-lifers need to get pro-lifers elected. You can hope for Barack (I don't want girls punished with babies) Obama to became sympathetic to the cause, but you are setting yourself up for major disappointment.

[the invisib1e hand]

See what I mean? Not getting it comes naturally to you.

[fhayek]

Why are you so insulting? I have a point of view, and I have made a point of NOT calling you a moron.

[the invisib1e hand]

I have made a point of NOT calling you a moron.

I guess I think it's more honorable to be directly insulting than being passively so.

[the invisib1e hand]

Besides, you didn’t get it. Twice.

[matginzac]

Yes, God bless them but this is the proverbial spitting in the wind - he and his don’t give a damn! And while they are writing letters, wish they would send some excommunication letters to Kennedy, etc. It would definitely make a statement to the faithful if nothing else...

[fhayek]

I guess I think it's more honorable to be directly insulting than being passively so.

You guess wrong.

[the invisib1e hand]

I’m gonna let that sit there for everyone to see for a bit...

[phatus maximus]

Agreed, but I really hope they don’t have too high of hopes for the next prez who has made it abundantly clear he could care less about the unborn children.

Tis a sad thing to know how little value pre-born life has with that man if any.

[phatus maximus]

Hopefully instead he will open the likelihood of those who really want to have children to blossom...that’d cover my wife and I...

[Religion Moderator]

Discuss the issues all you want, but do NOT make it personal.

[the invisib1e hand]

Puhleeze.

[pray4liberty]

Hopefully instead he will open the likelihood of those who really want to have children to blossom...that’d cover my wife and I...

Don't worry. You will have a beautiful family. If God strikes pro-choice women barren, it would be Karma and fitting punishment, because they're the ones who obtain the abortions. I believe God can bankrupt Planned Parenthood, if He so wills.

Conception belongs to the Lord. If the ones who are so hot on abortion fail to conceive, what happens to the industry?