Bishops to Dems: Not Good Enough

Catholic News Service: U.S. bishops tell Catholic Dems: Conscience resort no dodge to end abortion---

WASHINGTON (Catholic Online) – Three leading U.S. Catholic bishops, representing the nation’s bishops’ conference, told Catholic Democratic lawmakers that resorting to the primacy of conscience on abortion-related legislation is an insufficient response to the “grave violation of the most fundamental human right – the right to life.”

The March 10 “Statement on Responsibilities of Catholics in Public Life” from three U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ officials was made in response to the Feb. 28 statement of 55 Catholic U.S. House Democrats, in which said they are sometimes required by conscience or because of the religious diversity of the U.S. to disagree with the church "in some areas."

Signing the bishops’ statement were Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore, Md., chairman of the USCCB Committee on Pro Life Activities, Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington, chairman of the USCCB Task Force on Catholic Bishops and Catholic Politicians, and Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn, N.Y., chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Policy.

“We welcome the representatives’ recognition that Catholics in public life must act seriously and responsibly on many important moral issues,” the statement said, noting that the U.S. bishops will continue to work with Democrats and Republicans who seek to act on “essential principles in defense of the poor and vulnerable.”

While willing to work with legislators to “reduce the number of abortions by providing alternatives and help to vulnerable parents and children,” the bishops insisted that “Catholic teaching calls all Catholics to work actively to restrain, restrict and bring to an end the destruction of unborn human life.”

The three Catholic conference officials acknowledged the role that conscience should play in the work of legislators to make policy, and noted the church’s responsibility central responsibility “to teach clearly and help form consciences.”

But, they stressed, that “conscience must be consistent with fundamental moral principles.”

“All Catholics are obliged to shape our consciences in accord with the moral teaching of the church,” the church leaders said.

Amen.

Read the Bishops' statement here (scroll down a bit).

More about the Dems statement here and here.