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Peace & Life Connections: November 9, 2012 November 9th, 2012
We are now reproducing the Consistent Life “Peace & Life Connections” weekly newsletter on our website. If you are interested in more information, or in subscribing to the e-newsletter, please visit www.consistent-life.org/
A Pass to Catholic Politicians? Say What?
Many have argued in favor of the bizarre notion that the consistent life ethic is actually a liberal scheme to allow Catholics to vote for politicians who don’t oppose abortion. This is strange, of course, since anyone who doesn’t oppose abortion cannot, by definition, be following the consistent life ethic. We do the opposite: if politicians are in fact good on our other issues, we challenge them to be consistent on abortion as well. We also hope that pointing out the connections of violence may help persuade them to oppose abortion. Additionally, of course, we’re not just Catholic, but pride ourselves on the religious and philosophical diversity we represent.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel had a November 1 article making this criticism, and then also published a response. We encourage our readers to post comments and/or send in letters to the editor to strengthen the understanding of what our ethic really is.
Click here to read more »
Peace & Life Connections Newsletter – November 2, 2012 November 2nd, 2012
We are now reproducing the Consistent Life “Peace & Life Connections” weekly newsletter on our website. If you are interested in more information, or in subscribing to the e-newsletter, please visit www.consistent-life.org/
“Should We Stop Using Robots That Randomly Kill Children?”
The American Conservative has run an excellent article called “Pro-life Means Anti-Drone” that directly connects abortion and killing by drone, because both use similar excuses to kill innocent children.
Victoria Kennedy: Life-Ending Ballot Question is Cruel
Peace & Life Connections Newsletter October 26th, 2012
We are now reproducing the Consistent Life “Peace & Life Connections” weekly newsletter on our website. If you are interested in more information, or in subscribing to the e-newsletter, please visit www.consistent-life.org/
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Aimee Murphy Speaks to Students for Life
Aimee Murphy, Executive Director of Life Matters Journal and CL Advisory Board member, explained the consistent life ethic at the Students for Life of America Regional Conference in Buffalo, New York. They made a video of it and it’s up on the web, along with a full transcript.
Click here to read more »
Peace & Life Connections Newsletter October 12th, 2012
From now on, we will be reproducing the Consistent Life “Peace & Life Connections” weekly newsletter on our website. If you are interested in more information, or in subscribing to the e-newsletter, please visit www.consistent-life.org/
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October is Respect Life Month
The Catholic Church in the U.S. designates October as Respect Life Month with a program in its parishes that includes distribution of a set of educational materials. Non-Catholics may find some of the materials suitable as well. Issues of abortion, euthanasia, and the death penalty are normally covered.
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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Coerced abortion is one of many forms of domestic violence against women, and domestic violence also makes women more likely to seek abortions. Domestic violence can result from abortions as well, in the stressful aftermath. Feticide is itself a form of domestic violence – the strong committing lethal violence against the weak.
Coerced euthanasia is also itself a form of domestic abuse against the elderly. The very presence of euthanasia as a “voluntary” option can be pressure against the vulnerable, especially those already subjected to abuse.
We anticipate having more to offer on these points in future October issues. Anyone who has a specific resource or education on this point (or any other) can share it with us at weekly@consistent-life.org.
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World-wide Poverty
Today roughly 1.3 billion people—about one-fifth of humanity—live on what would be equivalent to a little over $1 in the United States.
As an illustration, consider the Indian district of Udaipur, where about half the population lived at this poverty level in 2004: most households living in such poverty owned a bed but more than 90 percent lacked a chair or table; none had indoor running water. The infant mortality rate was 10 percent—a striking fact for pro-lifers.
Such figures are discouraging, but we should also remember that more than half of humanity lived at roughly this level of poverty only about 30 years ago. If we have made genuine progress in the past in reducing poverty, why can we not do so in the future?
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No Exceptions
Long-time CL Endorser Dr. Karen Swallow Prior has written a piece called “No Exceptions: The Case for a Consistent Pro-Life Ethic.” Despite its title, the consistency does refer to abortion alone and not other issues, but it does refer to being consistent on abortion.
Dr. Karen Swallow Prior
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Quotation of the Week
October 2012 Respect Life Statement, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
“Faith Opens Our Eyes to Human Life in All Its Grandeur and Beauty”
“In addition to opening the door to abortion on request for all nine months of pregnancy, the Supreme Court’s decision eroded respect for human life and led to a growing acceptance of death as the “solution” to personal and societal problems.
Euthanasia and assisted suicide are now promoted as answers to declining health and disability. Human embryonic stem cell research, in which week-old embryos are sacrificed, is championed as a means to cure disease. To solve the problem of low fertility, many doctors create human embryos in their clinics, knowing full well that few embryos will survive to birth and the majority will be discarded or die. And the death penalty is still vigorously defended as the answer to violent crime.”
Issue #130 10.05.12; Consistent Life web page/ Join or Donate / Previous Issues / Index
USCCB Launches Respect Life Program for 2012-2013 October 9th, 2012
The United States Catholics Bishops Conference (USCCB) program has launched their 2012-2013 “Respect Life Program”. The Bishops are inviting Catholics to renew their personal commitment to defend all human life, especially for the most vulnerable members of the human family.
“By our unflinching defense of human life and religious freedom, by our witness to the transcendent nature of the human person, and by our compassionate service to our brothers and sisters in need, may we spark a renewal of love and commitment to the true good of others,” said Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston.
This year’s theme is: “Faith Opens Our Eyes to Human Life In All Its Grandeur and Beauty”. October is designated each year as Respect Life Month by the U.S. Catholic Church. Liturgical resources and prayers may now be downloaded from: www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/respect-life-program/index.cfm. These materials contain articles on timely topics in the cause for protecting human life and dignity.
