While looking over the candidates…

…this might be good to recall. Last February a group of Catholic members of the House of Representatives released a “Statement of Principles” in which they claimed to be committed to basic Catholic social teaching. But they refused to accept Church teaching on abortion.

The “Statement of Principles” was released on February 28, and signed by 55 of the 72 Catholic Democrats in the House of Representatives. The group professes its commitment to carrying out Catholic social teaching in many ways: “reducing the rising rates of poverty; increasing access to education for all; pressing for increased access to health care; and taking seriously the decision to go to war.”

The Democratic group goes on to acknowledge “the undesirability of abortion– we do not celebrate its practice.” But the statement says that although they recognize the Church’s teaching authority the lawmakers “believe also in the primacy of conscience.” Acknowledging the “tension that comes with being in disagreement with the Church in some areas,” the legislators leave it clear (if not explicitly stated) that they will not attempt to end legal abortion.

This is a distortion of ‘primacy of conscience’ and a grave defiance of Church teaching on the non-negotiable primacy of the sanctity of all human life, and the moral obligation to respect and defend it.

Look over the list of the politicians who signed the statement. Number 42 is about to become Speaker of the House, if election predictions hold true.