Wednesday September 8, 2010
Wisconsin Bishops: Faithful Citizenship Begins with Right to Life
By Peter J. Smith
MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin, September 8, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – While voters should weigh several factors in choosing a candidate to support, the right to life is the most essential of all, said the Catholic bishops of Wisconsin in a pastoral letter on the U.S. bishops’ voters guide.
Entitled “A Letter to Catholics in Wisconsin on Faithful Citizenship,” the document addressed four themes: the right to life, the nature of marriage, the poor and dependent, and the environment. However, the bishops made clear that these were not “pick and choose” values, but were built on a hierarchy with the right to life as the most fundamental.
The letter was signed by Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki of Milwaukee; Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison; Bishop Peter F. Christensen, Superior; Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay; and Bishop William P. Callahan of La Crosse.
Expanding upon the U.S. bishops’ guide “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” the pastoral letter stated its intent to provide a “framework of Catholic social teaching” to assist Catholics “in forming your conscience, in evaluating political candidates and public policies, and in fulfilling your calling to bring the love and truth of Jesus Christ into a world where these are so dearly needed.”
“First and foremost, the right to life of every human person – from conception to natural death – is the primary and thus most essential of all human rights,” the letter stated. “Faith teaches and human reason confirms that human life is not a privilege bestowed on us by others, but rather a right that society must recognize and protect.
“As Christians, we are called to witness to an authentic ‘human ecology’ which safeguards all human life – no matter how frail or impaired – from being manipulated or destroyed.”
The bishops indicated that marriage “between a man and a woman” needs to be defended for the health of children and society. Marriage, they said, “is established by the Creator as the foundation of the family, which in turn becomes the first and vital cell of society. Due to its service to life, including the procreation and necessary formation of new citizens, marriage is a social – not just a sacred – good that government needs to recognize, encourage, and protect.
“Marriage promotes the interest of children who need the constant love, attention, and guidance of their mothers and fathers to reach their fullest potential.”
The bishops also pointed out that the Catholic Church’s defense of the poor and vulnerable is rooted in upholding and promoting the rights and dignity of the unborn child. The Catholic “consistent life ethic extends from the vulnerable inside the womb to the vulnerable outside the womb,” they stated.
“As Catholics we understand that God has a special love for the poor and all those in danger or distress. Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us, ‘whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’”
Lastly, the bishops touched upon the need to conserve the environment as part of human flourishing. “Environmental ecology is intimately tied to human ecology: when we use our natural resources wisely, all human beings, now and in the future, will have the opportunity to thrive,” they wrote.
The bishops concluded with a reference to the Church dictum “Unity in essentials; liberty in non-essentials; charity in both,” which they called “especially pertinent around election time.”
“While faithful Catholics are united on the essentials of Church doctrine, we sometimes disagree on non-essential matters or in the prudential means of pursuing authentic goods,” they said. “All of us, however, bear witness to Our Lord Jesus Christ when, in the midst of our vigorous debates, we demonstrate charity and respect for one another.”
A copy of the bishops’ letter is available here.
Further information on “Faithful Citizenship” from the Wisconsin bishops is available here.