Madison, Wis., Sep 7, 2010 / 22:39 pm
In advance of the 2010 elections, the five Catholic bishops of Wisconsin have written a letter to provide Catholics a “framework” of Catholic social teaching to help them form their consciences in evaluating candidates and public policies. The letter called the right to life the “most essential” right.
The bishops’ Sept. 1 letter emphasized four themes: the right to life, the protection of marriage, assistance for the poor, and the protection of the environment.
“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. Both faith and reason confirm that human life is not a “privilege” but a “right” that society must 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 explained.