LifeNet

USCCB Statement on Critical Supreme Court S-SM Ruling

 

The Bishops' Statement begins as follows...

"The U.S. Supreme Court decision, June 26, interpreting the U.S. Constitution to require all states to license and recognize same-sex "marriage" is a tragic error that harms the common good and most vulnerable among us," said Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Read the full statement here:

Supreme Court Decision on Marriage “A Tragic Error” Says President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference

 LifeNet's view:

As Pope Francis says in his recent encyclical, "Everything is interrelated."

As most of the faithful would attest, it is important that Catholics rightly inform their consciences on this and other important matters that frame our social essence; not only as Catholics, but as human beings made in the image and likeness of God. To neglect this duty is to invite falsehoods into our lives and the lives of our children and grandchildren for generations to come. We should be seeking the truth and listening to more than the voices of a relativistic, and predominantly secular culture whose worldview often defies Catholic moral teaching and natural law.

It is only reasonable to want to understand issues like same-sex "marriage" as nothing more than a recognition of equality in a diverse and religiously plural, often atheistic society. This is why it is important for the Church to clearly teach and preach so that reasonable questions can be asked and answered. It is also important to view the long-term consequences of our decision making, and not simply make choices based on the immediate desires of any opinion group, as we have seen happen on the same-sex "marriage" issue.

The Church has always recognized the dignity of all persons. We know that which we all have in common, gay or straight, is that we are all born of a mother and father. If we are looking to unify, this is the natural law by which that occurs. Defining society's citizens by sexual preference, for example, only divides. How is this preferable to basic general unity? Problems have always existed in society and they can be addressed in many ways for the betterment of all. It is the opinion of Life Net editors that this recent, narrowly divided Supreme Court ruling only divides us further as a society. This ruling may not have sought to destroy religious freedoms and our Constitutional framework, but it did so. The saddest element of all is that many people cannot even articulate why.

 

The Pope: "Bishops have the right to tell their citizens how to use their vote to promote the common good."

Speaking to the Bishops of Brazil -

 

Catholic Bishops Pro-Life Committee issues statement for Respect Life Month

We are publishing the USCCB news release. The news release and the full press release can be found here:

http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2010/10-169.shtml

USCCB News Release

10-169
September 28, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

USCCB Pro-Life Committee Chairman Issues Statement for Respect Life Month

Cardinal DiNardo calls for awareness, prayer, healing and action in defense of life
Worldwide ‘Vigil for All Nascent Human Life’ set for November 27

WASHINGTON (September 28, 2010)—In a statement to mark Respect Life Month, October 2010, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston addressed direct threats to human life and called Catholics to “constantly witness to the inestimable worth and dignity of each human life through a loving concern for the good of others.” He also encouraged participation in the worldwide “Vigil for All Nascent Human Life” called for by Pope Benedict XVI at the start of Advent.

Cardinal DiNardo chairs the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

In his statement, Cardinal DiNardo noted populations particularly at risk: millions of unborn children in the womb, embryonic human beings destroyed “in the name of science,” and seriously ill patients “under threat from a renewed campaign for legalizing physician-assisted suicide.”

“The loss of even one child, and the pain experienced by the child’s mother and father in the aftermath of abortion, should impel us to redouble our efforts to end legal abortion,” Cardinal DiNardo said. He stressed the need “to ensure that every pregnant woman has whatever help she needs to turn away from this heartbreaking choice.” He highlighted Project Rachel, the Church’s healing ministry to women and men hurting after abortion, and called the ministry “a reflection of God’s love and mercy and His constant offer of forgiveness and healing.”

Cardinal DiNardo also noted the “urgent task” of “ensuring that health care reform … is not misused to promote abortion or to trample on the rights of conscience.”

“If we allow the dignity of every human life to guide the decisions we make as voters and public policy advocates, we can surely succeed in creating a more just and humane society,” Cardinal DiNardo said.

Cardinal DiNardo cited Pope Benedict’s “unprecedented request” for Catholics throughout the world to observe a “Vigil for All Nascent Human Life” on Saturday, November 27.

“I heartily encourage all Catholics, whether at home or traveling over the Thanksgiving holidays, to take part in this special prayer, whose purpose according to the Holy See,” he said, “is to ‘thank the Lord for his total self-giving to the world and for his Incarnation which gave every human life its real worth and dignity,’ and to ‘invoke the Lord’s protection over every human being called into existence’.”

Begun in 1972, the Respect Life Program stresses the value and dignity of human life. It is observed in the 195 Catholic dioceses in the United States. This year's theme is “The Measure of Love is to Love Without Measure.” The full statement follows and may be found online at www.usccb.org/prolife/programs/rlp/10dinardo-stmt.pdf.

 

U.S. Bishop's Conference offers final decision on politicians, abortion, and taking communion

And the decision is to leave it up to the local bishop. Bishops end debate over politicians, abortion

McCarrick said the task force met with Democratic and Republican politicians and consulted with Vatican officials and bishops in other nations on the "frustrating reality" of Catholics who seem to reject Catholic principles.

"Our concern is not politics, nor just particular policies, but their faith and even their salvation. These dialogues are not about winning votes, but saving souls," he said.

On the issue of communion, he said there was "no substitute for the local bishop's pastoral judgment and his vital relationships with Catholic public officials in his own diocese."

The task force has written a booklet of "Readings on Catholics and Political Life" that has been distributed to every Catholic politician in the U.S. Congress. Education and information sessions on Catholic teaching are also being arranged on Capitol Hill.