AOC’s Reproductive Justice Is Untenable with Catholic Faith

https://wholelifedemocrat.com/2020/09/01/aocs-reproductive-justice-is-untenable-with-catholic-faith/#more-2076

SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 / DFLA

By Sophie Trist

In a recent article in the National Catholic Reporter, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) expressed her support for reproductive justice not in spite of, but because of, her Catholic faith, urging other Catholics to do the same. Rep. Ocasio-Cortez’s take on reproductive justice weaves reproductive issues with social justice and consists of four core principles: the right to have a child, the right not to have a child, the right to nurture children in a safe and healthy environment, and the right to bodily autonomy and gender expression. Ocasio-Cortez then contends that her version of reproductive justice overlaps with Catholic social teaching’s stress on a preferential option for the poor and marginalized, access to education and healthcare, and the right to human dignity and a life free from violence. Front and center in Rep. Ocasio-Cortez’s ideas is the right to terminate pregnancies. Because abortion is an essential part of reproductive justice, it can never be squared with Catholic social teaching. In fact, by supporting the violence of abortion and urging other Catholics to do likewise, Ocasio-Cortez is encouraging her fellow Catholics to commit a grave moral sin and leading others to scandal.

The right not to have a child is absent in Scripture. No Catholic text even hints at such a right. There is, of course, the choice not to have children by abstaining from sexual intercourse or using natural family planning methods to eliminate or reduce the chances of getting pregnant, but pregnancy is a natural potential consequence of sexual activity.

Additionally, the NCR article ignores the fact that abortion is an act of violence, the taking of a human life. That is not religion, but science. Ninety-five percent of biologists, including very pro-choice ones, agree that life begins at conception. Faith and morality tell us that every human life has infinite worth and significance, including unborn ones.

The Catholic Catechism states, “Since the first century, the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable… The inalienable right to life of every innocent human individual is a constituted element of a civil society and its legislation… These human rights depend neither on single individuals nor on parents… They belong to human nature and are inherent in the person by virtue of the creative act from which the person took his origins” (CC 2271, 2273).

Indeed, scholars and philosophers of the early church made their views on abortion clear: it’s included in the Fourth Commandment prohibition against killing. In the first century, Clement of Alexandria wrote, “Abortion is killing human life that is under God’s care, design, and providence.” In his 197 work The Apology, early Christian apologist Tertullian writes, “In our case, murder being once for all forbidden, we may not destroy even the fetus in the womb… To hinder a birth is merely a speedier man killing; nor does it matter whether you take away a life that is born or destroy one that is coming to the birth. That is a man which is going to be one. You have the fruit already in the seed.” In a later essay, Tertullian draws on biblical passages about John the Baptist and Jesus living fully in their mothers’ wombs, arguing that humans are ensouled from the moment of conception. The Bible also speaks with reverence of unborn life: “Before I formed thee in the womb, I knew thee” (Jeremiah 1:15).

What Rep. Ocasio-Cortez misses is that the traditional Catholic position is one of a whole life ethic that is infinitely more just and progressive than her limited view. This ethic extends the right to a meaningful life to all humanity, born and unborn. There is no room for categories of humans who do not possess a right to live.

St. Pope John Paul II repeatedly wrote about the sanctity of every human life. In his 1995 encyclical Evangelium Vitae, or The Gospel of Life, he states, “Where life is involved, the service of charity must be profoundly consistent. It cannot tolerate bias and discrimination, for human life is sacred and inviolable at every stage and in every situation; it is an indivisible good… It is impossible to further the common good without acknowledging and defending the right to life, upon which all the other inalienable rights of individuals are founded and from which they develop. A society lacks solid foundations when, on the one hand, it asserts values such as the dignity of the person, justice, and peace, but then, on the other hand, radically acts to the contrary by allowing or tolerating a variety of ways in which human life is devalued and violated, especially where it is weak or marginalized” (No. 87, 101).

Abortion is an intrinsic evil, meaning that where the intention is to take a life, it can never be justified. The removal of an ectopic pregnancy, on the other hand, is morally permissible for Catholics because the intent is to save the mother, and the child dies as an unfortunate consequence. Opposition to abortion is such a key component of Catholic social teaching because it combines the Christian reverence for human life, made in the image and likeness of God, with the preferential option for the poor and vulnerable. Pope Francis also calls for a consistent ethic of life, saying, “The life we are called to promote and defend is not an abstract concept, but always manifests itself in a person in flesh and blood: a newly conceived child, a poor marginalized person, a sick person alone and discouraged or in a terminal state, one who has lost his job or is unable to find it, a rejected and ghettoized migrant.” Pope Francis has previously compared abortion to hiring a hit man to solve a problem and eliminate a more vulnerable person, and he stresses the current relevance of Evangelium Vitae.

It is vital that children be nurtured in healthy, safe environments. It is vital that parents of all races, classes, and genders have the financial, educational, and community support to raise flourishing families. But we cannot uplift one group of vulnerable people while denying another vulnerable group its most fundamental right to life. For people of faith and goodwill, the key role of abortion in reproductive justice efforts mean that we must abandon this lens and instead use a seamless garment or consistent life ethic approach. Like reproductive justice, the consistent life ethic does not view any issue in a vacuum, but weaves together a profound respect for human life at every stage with efforts to eliminate discrimination and increase access to support and opportunities so that ALL humans, from the womb to the tomb, can live a life of dignity free from violence.

The consistent life ethic is not exclusively Catholic, though it originated from Catholic theology. Christians of all denominations, non-Christians, secularists, agnostics, and atheists have all been inspired to uphold the position that life from conception to natural death is worthy of protection and celebration. I do not doubt that Rep. Ocasio-Cortez’s Catholic background has instilled a passion for social justice. She can take a major step in promoting the radical justice implicit in her Catholic ideals by expanding her concern to the most vulnerable in our society: the unborn.

My Comments to the USCCB on Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship

 I am in the process of reading Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.  I hope that the bishops of this country speak and encourage parish priests to speak out on this, especially with the election following respect life month in October.  

I have long held "The issue of human life and its preservation and development is one that begins with conception and ends only when God calls a person back to himself in death. If we are consistent, then, we must be concerned about life from beginning to end. It is like a seamless garment; either it all holds together or eventually it all falls apart." by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin,  At this present moment, I see ample evidence of our country falling apart, true to Cardinal Bernadin's words.

I see that the general pro-life movement has disconnected itself from other life issues, even though  women have abortions due to other life issues, including abuse and lack of health care, thinking that abortion is their only choice. On the other hand those who champion those other life issues have listened to the screaming of the choice organizations and refuse to listen to those who work toward the elimination of abortion. Neither group respects the other because each sees the lack of respect for life shown by the other group's focus.  (The only group that I see as a viable voice is Democrats for Life, #DFLA)

Also overtaking our country is the disrespect for life by racism, bullying, violence on the part of authorities toward ethnic groups, even the denigration of political opponents as almost daily demonstrated by our president.  Add to that the ever present and increasing violence by gangs in the cities and para-military groups all over the country.  

I do not advocate not lessening the focus on abortion, but I do advocate for more emphasis on the other life issues.  This would quiet those who argue that pro-lifers are only concerned with a baby until it is born.  This would also give the country a firm idea of what it means to respect life, and that is the only way that this country will survive the abyss it has descended into. 

Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States

  https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/upload/forming-consciences-for-faithful-citizenship.pdf

Introductory Letter

   As Catholics, we bring the richness of our faith to the public square. We draw from both faith and reason as we seek to affirm the dignity of the human person and the common good of all. With renewed hope, we, the Catholic Bishops of the United States, are re-issuing Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, our teaching document on the political responsibility of Catholics, which provides guidance for all who seek to exercise their rights and duties as citizens.

   Everyone living in this country is called to participate in public life and contribute to the common good. In Rejoice and Be Glad [Gaudete et Exsultate], Pope Francis writes:

    Your identification with Christ and his will involves a commitment to build with him that kingdom of  love, justice and universal peace. . . .You cannot grow in holiness without committing yourself, body and soul, to giving your best to this endeavor.

  The call to holiness, he writes, requires a “firm and passionate” defense of “the innocent unborn.” “Equally sacred,” he further states, are “the lives of the poor, those already born, the destitute, the abandoned and the underprivileged, the vulnerable infirm and elderly exposed to covert euthanasia, the victims of human trafficking, new forms of slavery, and every form of rejection.”

  Our Our approach to contemporary issues is first and foremost rooted in our identity as followers of Christ and as brothers and sisters to all who are made in God’s image. For all Catholics, including those seeking public office, our participation in political parties or other groups to which we may belong should be influenced by our faith, not the other way around.

  Our 2015 statement, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,sought to help Catholics form their consciences, apply a consistent moral framework to issues facing the nation and world, and shape their choices in elections in the light of Catholic Social Teaching. In choosing to re-issue this statement, we recognize that the thrust of the document and the challenges it addresses remain relevant today.

  At the same time, some challenges have become even more pronounced. Pope Francis has continued to draw attention to important issues such as migration, xenophobia, racism, abortion, global conflict, and care for creation. In the United States and around the world, many challenges demand our attention.

  The threat of abortion remains our preeminent priority because it directly attacks life itself, because it takes place within the sanctuary of the family, and because of the number of lives destroyed. At the same time, we cannot dismiss or ignore other serious threats to human life and dignity such as racism, the environmental crisis, poverty and the death penalty.

  Our efforts to protect the unborn remain as important as ever, for just as the Supreme Court may allow greater latitude for state laws restricting abortion, state legislators have passed statutes not only keeping abortion legal through all nine months of pregnancy but opening the door to infanticide. Additionally, abortion contaminates many other important issues by being inserted into legislation regarding immigration, care for the poor, and health care reform.

  At our border, many arriving families endure separation, inhumane treatment, and lack of due process, while those fleeing persecution and violence face heightened barriers to seeking refuge and asylum. Within our borders, Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and mixed-status and undocumented families face continued fear and anxiety as political solutions fail to materialize. Lawmakers’ inability to pass comprehensive immigration reform which acknowledges the family as the basic unit of society has contributed to the deterioration of conditions at the border. As we seek solutions, we must ensure that we receive refugees, asylum seekers, and other migrants in light of the teachings of Christ and the Church while assuring the security of our citizens.

  The wound of racism continues to fester; the bishops of the United States drew attention to this important topic in the recent pastoral letter, Open Wide Our Hearts. Religious freedom problems continue to intensify abroad and in the United States have moved beyond the federal to state and local levels. As international conflicts proliferate, addressing poverty and building global peace remain pressing concerns, as does the need to assist persons and families in our own country who continue to struggle to make ends meet. We must work to address gun violence, xenophobia, capital punishment, and other issues that affect human life and dignity. It is also essential to affirm the nature of the human person as male and female, to protect the family based on marriage between a man and a woman, and to uphold the rights of children in that regard. Finally, we must urgently find ways to care better for God’s creation, especially those most impacted by climate change—the poor—and protect our common home. We must resist the throw-away culture and seek integral development for all.

  With these and other serious challenges facing both the nation and the Church, we are called to walk with those who suffer and to work toward justice and healing.

  At all levels of society, we are aware of a great need for leadership that models love for righteousness (Wisdom 1:1) as well as the virtues of justice, prudence, courage, and temperance. Our commitment as people of faith to imitate Christ’s love and compassion should challenge us to serve as models of civil dialogue, especially in a context where discourse is eroding at all levels of society.  Where we live, work, and worship, we strive to understand before seeking to be understood, to treat with respect those with whom we disagree, to dismantle stereotypes, and to build productive conversation in place of vitriol.

  Catholics from every walk of life can bring their faith and our consistent moral framework to contribute to important work in our communities, nation, and world on an ongoing basis, not just during election season. In this coming year and beyond, we urge leaders and all Catholics to respond in prayer and action to the call to faithful citizenship. In doing so, we live out the call to holiness and work with Christ as he builds his kingdom of love.

Merciful Father,

Thank you for inviting each of us to join in your work

of building the kingdom of love, justice, and peace.

Draw us close to you in prayer

as we discern your call in our families and communities.

Send us forth to encounter all whom you love:

those not yet born, those in poverty, those in need of welcome.

Inspire us to respond to the call to faithful citizenship,

during election season and beyond.

Help us to imitate your charity and compassion

and to serve as models of loving dialogue.

Teach us to treat others with respect, even when we disagree,

and seek to share your love and mercy.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen