{"id":293779,"date":"2023-06-29T06:41:41","date_gmt":"2023-06-29T11:41:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=293779"},"modified":"2023-06-30T06:43:10","modified_gmt":"2023-06-30T11:43:10","slug":"catholic-democrats-faith-killing-preborn-humans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/catholic-democrats-faith-killing-preborn-humans\/","title":{"rendered":"Bishops to pro-abortion Catholic lawmakers: ‘Conscience not a license to commit evil’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Update 6\/30\/23<\/strong>: The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the chairmen of the USCCB’s pro-life and doctrine committees released<\/a> a joint statement<\/a> on Wednesday in response to the pro-abortion “Renewed Statement of Principles” signed by Catholic legislators. The message is clear that using the “teachings of the Catholic faith itself as justifying abortion or supporting a supposed right to abortion grievously distort the faith.”<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is wrong and incoherent to claim that the taking of innocent human life at its most vulnerable stage can ever be consistent with the values of supporting the dignity and wellbeing of those in need,\u201d the bishops said. \u201c\u2018Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception,\u2019 including through the civil law (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2270, 2273). Abortion violates this with respect to preborn children and brings untold suffering to countless women.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bishops added that “conscience is not a license to commit evil and take innocent lives. Conscience cannot and does not justify the act or support of abortion. In fact, conscience ‘must be informed and moral judgment enlightened’ with the Word of God in faith and prayer, and ‘guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church’ [CCC 1783, 1785]. Moreover, the reality that the preborn are our living sisters and brothers is not only a matter of faith, but is attested to by science and sound reason.”<\/p>\n

In addition, they asked legislators “to support the freedom of Catholics and of others to serve the common good in accord with their beliefs in a wide range of areas — from services and assistance to recently arrived migrants, to offering health care and social services.” They also asked that the lawmakers work to help “the vulnerable and marginalized, including mothers and families in need.”<\/p>\n

The USCCB statement was issued by Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services, USCCB president; Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington, Va., chairman of the USCCB\u2019s Committee on Pro-Life Activities; and Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville, Texas, chairman of the USCCB\u2019s Committee on Doctrine.<\/p>\n

6\/29\/23<\/strong>: In response to the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade<\/em>, a group of 31 House Democrats who call themselves the “faithful pro-choice Catholic majority” has issued<\/a> a “Renewed Statement of Principles” reaffirming their support for abortion.<\/p>\n

In the statement, which was organized by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (Conn.), the Catholic lawmakers attempt to justify their support of abortion by citing their freedom of conscience.<\/p>\n

“As Catholics, we believe all individuals are free to make their own personal decisions about their bodies, families, and futures,” they write. “The role of informed conscience is at the very core of our faith. The Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC] plainly states that ‘A human being must always obey the certain judgment of his [or her] conscience. If he [or she] were deliberately to act against it, he [or she] would condemn himself [or herself].’ We regard conscience as both a sacred gift and a responsibility: we are called to follow our conscience.”<\/p>\n

In citing the CCC, the lawmakers notably omit the second part of the passage, which states<\/a>, “Yet it can happen that moral conscience remains in ignorance, and makes erroneous judgments about acts to be performed or already committed.” This statement, and further explanations laid out in subsequent CCC passages, demonstrate that despite the lawmakers’ claims, the Church does not advocate the freedom of conscience above all else \u2014 especially when the argument of conscience results in the taking of an innocent human life.<\/p>\n