Ten Commandments seen as basis for secular arguments on modern issues

Published: 2008-05-13

NEW YORK (CNS) -- Catholic and Jewish presenters at an April 30 interfaith consultation held in New York pointed to the Ten Commandments as the basis for secular arguments on contemporary social issues. Abortion, embryonic stem-cell research and same-sex unions are among the issues that could benefit from such an approach, according to papers presented during the consultation. A May 7 news release from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops reported details of the meeting, which focused on religion and public morality in U.S. society today. The Catholic-Jewish consultation, which meets twice a year, includes representatives of the USCCB, the Union of Orthodox Rabbis and the Rabbinical Council of America. Both Catholics and Orthodox Jews view judicial and legislative efforts to broaden the definition of marriage to include same-sex unions as harmful to both family life and the common good of society. Consultation participants recently drafted a statement, defending marriage between one man and one woman, which is expected to be published in the coming weeks.

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