IHM: Consistent Ethic of Life

Consistent Life Ethic

"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

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Issue Description

Cardinal Joseph Bernardin articulated the "seamless garment" moral vision in 1983. Also known as the "consistent ethic of life," the approach was intended to form a broad commitment to the sanctity and quality of life in a variety of issues:

integrity of creation

discrimination

poverty

the arms race

peace

abortion

euthanasia

the death penalty

This moral vision is at the heart of the gospel and Catholic social teaching. In the Vatican II document, Gaudium et Spes, it is expressed clearly.

"Because of this essential sociality that orders society to the good of the person, society, in turn, bears a duty to foster, promote, and to protect human life - from conception to natural death."

The consistent ethic of life requires a shift from violence to non-violence and away from systems that endanger or limit life, toward a protection of the common good, according to the New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference in their April 1997 statement, A Consistent Ethic of Life.

"The future of humanity itself has become dependent on the wise choices made by the human family to ensure the flourishing in abundance of life, love and diversity. There must be continuing reflection on the value of life so that wise choices can be made... In order to nurture and protect all life we need to widen our understanding of what it is we are protecting and how we are to go about it. We need to recognize the interconnectedness of all living things and the value of diversity."

Poverty is the largest killer in the world. Policies that favor economic growth over the well-being of people are not part of a consistent ethic of life. Nor is the killing and maiming of innocent civilians in war; the execution of prisoners; or discrimination based on race, nationality, social condition or sex. Abortion and euthanasia are also incompatible with a consistent ethic of life. As the New Zealand bishops write:

"The unborn child is the most vulnerable, most innocent and most defenseless of all beings. The protection of such a person is clearly a moral obligation no one can avoid. Our responsibility extends to creating an environment within families and society where pregnant mothers are supported, children are made welcome and abortion is not seen as the only possibility in cases of forced and problematic pregnancies."

The consistent ethic of life recognizes the sanctity of the lives of the terminally ill, the redemptive nature of inevitable suffering properly borne, and the contribution even the most helpless sick person has to offer by drawing on the compassion and love of those around.

In Caritas in Veritate, Pope Benedict XVI makes the connection between life ethics and social ethics, linking love, truth, and justice with poverty, hunger, greed, corruption and the necessity to transform economic and political institutions. Although this 2009 encyclical does not mention the consistent ethic of life by name, it delivers the message with conviction.

Resources

Learn More About the Consistent Ethic of LIfe (PDF)