Consistent Ethic of Life
About a consistent ethic of life
A consistent ethic of life is a "linkage of life issues, issues which, I am convinced, constitute a 'seamless garment.' … It argues for a continuum of life which must be sustained in the face of diverse and distinct threats."
--Cardinal Bernadin
"The Christian faith is an integral unity, and thus it is incoherent to isolate some particular element to the detriment of the whole of Catholic doctrine. A political commitment to a single isolated aspect of the church's social doctrine does not exhaust one's responsibility toward the common good."
--Congregation on the Doctrine of the Faith
"Catholic teaching is clear that seeking peace and ending war, caring for the poor and most vulnerable, 'promoting the common good in all its forms'-in the words of Pope Benedict XVI -are all nonnegotiable."
Our Work Continues
Helpful Links
Though this list is by no means comprehensive, here are some links to organizations that promote human dignity and a consistent ethic of life.
- The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops provides a wealth of information on Catholic social teaching.
- Catholic Charities works to reduce poverty in America.
- Catholic Relief Services works to assist impoverished and disadvantaged people overseas, working in the spirit of Catholic Social Teaching to promote the sacredness of human life and the dignity of the human person.
- The Gabriel Project is an effort by a church community to help women in crisis pregnancies.
- The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy seeks to improve the lives and future prospects of children and families and, in particular, to help ensure that children are born into stable, two-parent families who are committed to and ready for the demanding task of raising the next generation.
- Adopt US Kids recruits and connects foster and adoptive families with waiting children throughout the United States.
- The National Foster Care Coalition support the positive development of children, youth, and families as the collective responsibility of the community.
- The Catholic Mobilizing Network to End the Use of the Death Penalty is working in collaboration with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to put the Church’s teaching about the death penalty into action.
- The Genocide Intervention Network empowers individuals and communities with the tools to prevent and stop genocide.
- Also, be sure to check out these social justice organizations!.
