Conscience must concur with church's moral teaching, politicians told

Published: 2006-03-13

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Responding to a recent statement by Catholic Democrats in the House of Representatives affirming "the primacy of conscience" in their voting decisions, three key leaders of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said conscience "must be consistent with fundamental moral principles," including the church's opposition to abortion. "As members of the church, all Catholics are obliged to shape our consciences in accord with the moral teaching of the church," said a "Statement on Responsibilities of Catholics in Public Life," which called abortion "a grave violation of the most fundamental human right -- the right to life." The March 10 statement was signed by Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities; Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington, chairman of the Task Force on Catholic Bishops and Catholic Politicians; and Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn, N.Y., chairman of the Committee on Domestic Policy. In their Feb. 28 statement, 55 of the 73 Catholic Democrats in the House acknowledged Catholic teaching on "the value of human life and the undesirability of abortion" and pledged to support alternatives to abortion, such as adoption, improved access to children's health care and child care, and "policies that encourage paternal and maternal responsibility." They said they "seek the church's guidance" on those issues but also believe "in the primacy of conscience." Some of the politicians who signed that statement are strongly pro-life while others support keeping abortion legal.

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