An Urgent Call for a “Consistent Ethic of Life”

Gratitude to eight Catholic Leadership organizations in the United States, including the Leadership Conference of Women Religious that on January 26, 2017 sent a two-page letter to President Trump and other senior political figures. In the letter the groups outline a “comprehensive pro-life approach”.

The group stressed six areas of concern: global conflict and violence, immigration, climate change, the provision of comprehensive health care and social services, the refugee crisis and criminal justice. The issue of abortion was, as one might expect, included in the content of the letter. It was clearly noted, however, that abortion rates always decline in social contexts in which all persons are respected and where there are adequate social safety-nets to support women and families faced with hard decisions. To truly create a “culture of life”, all issues of life must be addressed in an integrated manner.

The groups began their letter welcoming an “opportunity to promote the common good”. They continued, “As Catholics, we see the human person as created in the image of God, and value all life as sacred. This sacredness is threatened with each sister and brother left vulnerable in our society. This includes the immigrant, the refugee, the mother at risk, the unborn child, people with disabilities, and the prisoner on death row.”

In addressing their letter in this wide-ranging way, the groups were reminding the new U.S. Administration, and indeed all of us that to embrace a truly pro-life approach there must be “consistency” in thinking and action. The approach calls for a “consistent ethic of life”. Such an ethic has been a feature of Catholic reflection and teaching for many years and  it is congruent with a new awareness emerging from our understandings of science today. We cannot isolate, fragment or separate the issues of life. A “Consistent Ethic of life” philosophy holds that issues such as abortion, euthanasia, quality of life concerns, education, economy, capital punishment, the criminal drug culture, domestic and global violence, concern for most vulnerable peoples, social justice and environmental destruction must all be embraced holistically. If, with others, we are to create a culture of life in our world we must recognize the interconnectedness of all these issues. Single-issue ethics fail to embrace the complex realities of existence, the struggles and suffering of people and the environment and the call to integrity in our world today.

It is precisely this comprehensive and consistent life approach that the letter to President Trump is attempting to convey. The message is especially urgent in light of pervasive policies dividing peoples, a spreading rhetoric of fear and discrimination in many countries, global violence, the refugee crisis and the denial of environmental concerns. Appreciation to the groups who formulated the letter for keeping a vision of life before our eyes and calling us to action for life together.

Mary Rowell, CSJ