The Catholic Church has seen every empire, kingdom and government come and go for the last 2100 years. In that time, we’ve learned a thing or two.
As we prepare for the upcoming election, it is our moral obligation to vote with a well-formed conscience. No matter where you might see yourself on the political spectrum, to ignore the wisdom of the one institution that has survived history would be patently irresponsible.
The first thing that makes for a just society is a healthy respect and the protection of the law for the life and dignity of the human person. All other rights are predicated on this fundamental principle. Without the right to life and protection of the dignity of one’s person, no other civil rights are possible.
The essential question here is: WHO is considered a full participant in civil society? What is the standard by which one is considered a “person” in civil law so that they may exercise their rights and fulfill their obligations within society?
The Church has always maintained that one is considered a human person from the moment of conception. But it does not stop there. It is not enough simply to be “Pro-conception” or “Pro-birth.” Life is sacred AND social. Thus, we all have a continuing obligation to promote the dignity of every person in society at every stage of life from conception to natural death. This includes attention to such things as affordable housing, access to health care, a living wage, participation in civic life, equal justice under the law, and the right to one’s life and dignity as he or she nears the end of life. In a nutshell, as a society, we are judged on how we treat our most vulnerable members, as well as who we consider to be members in the first place.
To learn more about the Life and Dignity of the Human Person, please watch this 3-minute video:
then go to:
This is a critical time in our society. Voting with an informed conscience is everybody’s responsibility. – Fr. Leo
Words for Life!