Bishops address Catholic voters and politicians

Washington (CNS) -- Politicians who act "consistently to support abortion on demand" risk "cooperating in evil and sinning against the common good," the U.S. Catholic bishops said in a statement last week.

"Those who formulate the law" are obliged in conscience "to work toward correcting morally defective laws," they said in the statement, titled "Catholics in Political Life." "The killing of an unborn child is always intrinsically evil....To make such intrinsically evil actions legal is itself wrong."

The statement was adopted by a vote of 183-6 during a special assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, held June 14-19 in Colorado.

Obligation

Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, who attended the assembly, told The Evangelist that "the legal system should work to protect those who are vulnerable in society, and that certainly includes unborn children.

"Every one of us, including those in public office, has an obligation in conscience to work toward correcting morally defective laws."

The Bishop added that the new statement must be read in light of the bishops' election-year statement on political responsibility, "Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic Call to Political Responsibility." (The text appears at www.usccb.org.)

Up to bishop

Noting that "the question has been raised" whether it is necessary to deny Communion to Catholics in public life who support abortion on demand, the bishops said that "all must examine their consciences" about their worthiness to receive Communion, including with regard to "fidelity to the moral teaching of the Church in personal and public life."

They added that "given the wide range of circumstances involved in arriving at a prudential judgment" in that matter, the bishops "recognize that such decisions rest with the individual bishop in accord with established canonical and pastoral principles.

"Bishops can legitimately make different judgments on the most prudent course of pastoral action" in confronting individual cases, they said, but the bishops share an "unequivocal commitment to protect human life and dignity."

Protecting unborn

The bishops urged Catholics in public life to protect the unborn and oppose legal abortion "lest they be guilty of cooperating in evil" -- which, in Catholic teaching, is itself sinful.

They said they would counsel Catholic politicians who consistently work against restrictions on abortion that their support for abortion on demand "risks making them cooperators in evil in a public manner."

The statement said respect for the Eucharist "demands that it be received worthily and that it be seen as the source for our common mission in the world."

They cited the First Letter to the Corinthians, in which St. Paul warns that "whoever...eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord."

Noting "the polarizing tendencies of election-year politics," they warned against misusing Catholic teaching and sacramental practice "for political ends."

Public policy

Reflecting on the Church's role in promoting public policies that respect human life and dignity, they said there is a need "to continue to teach clearly" and to bring Catholic leaders to an "unequivocal commitment" to full legal protection of human life at every stage.

They said there is a need to do more "to persuade all people that human life is precious and human dignity must be defended." They invited political leaders as well as others to take initiatives in that area.

They called on all Catholics "to act in support of these principles and policies in public life."

(James Breig, editor, contributed to this story.)

(6/24/04)