Dear Friends in Christ,
Yes, this is a challenging and contentious election season. And seems, at least from my perspective, that each succeeding election is even more challenging. Some people are so dismayed by the electoral process, the campaigning, the name calling, and TV commercials that they throw their hands in the air, bury their heads in the sand, and decide to skip the ballot box.
As faithful Catholics and good citizens of this precious republic, that cannot be our position. As good citizens, we must defend and promote the truth of the Gospel as revealed by the light of both our Catholic faith and human reason.
We cannot take our right to vote for granted. That right is precious, and we must exercise it to bring as much salt and light to our nation as we can. And as we pray and consider for whom we should vote, we must first consider the sanctity of life, from conception to natural death. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops USCCB has published guidance on Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship. In that document, the bishops state: “The threat of abortion remains our preeminent priority because it directly attacks life itself because it takes place within the sanctuary of the family, and because of the number of lives destroyed.”
Some have criticized this statement trying to put other social justice issues on equal footing or equal priority with the issue of life. In launching Respect Life Month in September 2020, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, wrote: “This past January, I shared with Pope Francis that the bishops of the United States had been criticized by some for identifying the protection of the unborn as a preeminent priority. The Holy Father expressed his support for our efforts observing that if we fail to protect life, no other rights matter. Pope Francis also said that abortion is not primarily a Catholic or even a religious issue, it is first and foremost a human rights issue.”
Yes, it is first and foremost a human rights issue, the most fundamental. If you don’t have the right to be born, what is the value of a $15/hour minimum wage, a good education, a meaningful and rewarding job, or good healthcare? You would not be there to enjoy those benefits.
“Have the courage to let the unborn be born…No other rights matter if you don’t have the right to be born.” Jim Harbaugh, Pro-life Catholic and now the head coach of the San Diego Chargers.
May we respect life with our prayers, our actions, and our votes!
All the best…in Christ.
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