LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Catholic voters must make the best choice on Election Day

Posted

TO THE EDITOR:

Protecting our God-given right to life from conception to natural death is the overriding human rights issue of all time because it is the foundation of all other human rights. Scripture, Apostolic Tradition and reason agree that it is always and everywhere wrong to intentionally kill an innocent human life. There is no greater crime. Mother Teresa, a living saint who embodied social justice and the Beatitudes, understood this. She often decried the evil of abortion above all others. She once stated, “A child is a gift of God … abortion takes the life of that child. And if we accept that a mother can kill her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another? The greatest destroyer of peace is abortion.”
The U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops’ document entitled “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” states, “The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life is always wrong and is not just one issue among many.” Abortion, the intentional killing of innocent human life in the womb, is an intrinsically evil act. Pope Benedict XVI made this explicit when he explained, “Not all moral issues have the same weight as abortion and euthanasia. There may be legitimate diversity of opinion among Catholics about war, the death penalty and immigration, but not with regard to abortion and euthanasia.” Thus we have a moral obligation to vote pro-life when possible.
The current administration has fought for and continues to promote an America rooted in our Constitution; an America governed by the rule of law based upon our God-given inalienable rights. It has fought for the protection of the unborn, appointed justices faithful to God’s natural law, stood for parental rights and school choice, strengthened our military, and secured our borders as it works to improve legal immigration procedures. The president has negotiated fair trade agreements to improve our economy, and most importantly, stood for the religious freedom of all believers.
We realize these are complex issues, however, this last point cannot be understated. The present administration has fought like no other — both domestically and around the world — for the people’s right to conduct their affairs without discrimination against their faith, for the protection of conscience rights in healthcare, and for many other policies that protect rather than abandon American principles rooted in our Judeo-Christian heritage.
For Americans — especially faithful Christians and all citizens of good will — who value everyone’s God-given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and the Bill of Rights, especially our First Amendment Rights to Freedom of Speech, Religion and Association, the choice to make this November has never been clearer.

Maria Parker, MBA, DM
Former United Nations Representative for World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations, Director of Public Policy for MA Catholic Conference and Respect Life Coordinator for the Diocese of Providence

Michelle Cretella, MD
Member of Catholic Medical Association’s Health Policy Committee