In the midst of our often busy days, with the tasks that need to get done, the bills that need to be paid, and the troubles facing us and our loved ones, it is easy to become oblivious to the difficulties of our neighbors – especially our neighbors who are out of sight and out of mind. But let’s be mindful to not let this happen. Because in the eyes and ears of the politically and economically powerful, the poor and vulnerable are invisible and muted, therefore, we must make known their presence and raise their voices!
Holocaust survivor, the late Elie Wiesel, in his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech inspiring said, “I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant.” Every single human life matters. No one category of persons, no single life issue is irrelevant. They all matter. They are not to be ranked. They are to be linked! And remember, a chain is as strong as its weakest link. So let us make sure that no link in the life chain is weak.
It makes the best case, the most sense, to pray and work extremely hard to the best of our ability for all the life issues. This consistent concern for all life makes our position the most logical and strongest; and places us on the highest moral ground. In his powerful encyclical “Evangelium Vitae” (“The Gospel of Life”), St. Pope John Paul II is crystal clear on this. He wrote, “As disciples of Jesus, we are called to become neighbors to everyone (Luke 10:29-37) and to show special favor to those who are poorest, most alone and most in need. In helping the hungry, the thirsty, the foreigner, the naked, the sick, the imprisoned – as well as the child in the womb and the old person who is suffering or near death – we have the opportunity to serve Jesus. … “Where life is involved, the service of charity must be profoundly consistent. It cannot tolerate bias or discrimination, for human life is sacred and inviolable at every stage and in every situation; it is an indivisible good. We need then to ‘show care’ for all life and for the life of everyone.”
Sadly, since very few politicians are committed to caring for all life and the life of everyone, our morally difficult task is to try to figure out who is going to do the most good for the most people – especially the vulnerable and poor – and the least harm. Many politicians who support the Catholic Church’s stand on one issue often work against the church on other issues. Single issue voting has serious flaws, and is not the Catholic position. Instead, Catholics are called to consider the big picture, that is, all the life issues.
In the words of the U.S. Catholic bishops: “As Catholics we are not single-issue voters. A candidate’s position on a single issue is not sufficient to guarantee a voter’s support.”
Not just the unborn, not just the poor, not just the hungry, not just the homeless, not just the war-torn, not just the undocumented, not just the medically uninsured, not just condemned prisoners, not just the environment and not just future generations, but all of the above deserve our care.
Everyone’s life and dignity needs to be fully protected and respected!
About the Author
Tony Magliano is not a member of the AUSCP. He is an internationally syndicated Catholic social justice and peace columnist. He is available to speak at diocesan or parish gatherings. Tony can be reached at tmag6@comcast.net.