Fr. Shenan J. Boquet: Why Abortion Is the Pre-eminent Moral Issue

“[T]he acknowledgment of the personal dignity of every human being demands the respect, the defense and the promotion of the rights of the human person. It is a question of inherent, universal and inviolable rights. No one, no individual, no group, no authority, no State, can change –let alone eliminate – them because such rights find their source in God himself.” ― Pope St. John Paul II, Christifideles laici

In Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, the U.S. bishops provide ethical guidance on the political responsibilities of Catholics. It assists Catholics, in light of the Church’s teaching, to form their consciences and to learn about Catholic social doctrine on fundamental moral issues, which give shape to political, cultural, and social issues.

As a pro-life leader, I am delighted with the strong language in the guide on the topic of abortion. “The threat of abortion remains our pre-eminent priority,” the introduction to the most recent version of the guide states, “because it directly attacks our most vulnerable and voiceless brothers and sisters and destroys more than a million lives per year in our country alone.”

Some people are uncomfortable with this language. They argue that there are many threats to the sanctity of life in the U.S., and not just abortion. This includes such things as the rise of euthanasia, degrading treatment of immigrants, the use of the death penalty, the exploitation of workers, and more. Shouldn’t these also be treated as among the “pre-eminent” issues for Catholic voters and politicians? …