Do you have friends who claim to be against abortion but vote for pro-abortion politicians because abortion is “just one issue among many”? Perhaps solid teaching from our shepherds can help convince them otherwise.

John Gerard Lewis, author of Catholic Voting and Mortal Sin: How You Vote Can Endanger Your Salvation, has compiled quotes from US bishops which, taken together, drive home Church teaching on the right to life. (A link to Lewis’s book and website are provided below.)

If Catholics see economic and “social justice” issues as paramount, they must consider:

– “The church’s social teaching is very coherent and extends to all aspects of economic justice, racial equality, war and peace, immigration, education, and healthcare issues. But the centerpiece of our teaching will always be the right to life.” — Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley, Boston

– “The Catholic Church is actively engaged in a wide variety of important public policy issues including immigration, education, affordable housing, health and welfare, to name just a few. On each of these issues we should do our best to be informed and to support those proposed solutions that seem most likely to be effective. However, when it comes to direct attacks on innocent human life, being right on all the other issues can never justify a wrong choice on this most serious matter.” — Bishop Thomas Olmsted, Phoenix

– “[N]o equivalence can ever exist between the intentional killing involved in abortion, infanticide and euthanasia, on the one hand, and issues like homelessness, the death penalty and anti-poverty policy on the other. Again, all of these issues are important. But trying to reason or imply them into having the same moral weight is a debasement of Christian thought.” — Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, formerly of Philadelphia

– “[A]bortion is an issue that affects all segments of our society. It represents the primary right guaranteed in our Declaration of Independence — the right to life. Unless we protect this fundamental right of each human person, at all stages of life, no other issue or liberty matters.” — Archbishop José H. Gomez, formerly of San Antonio, Texas

– “When we choose a candidate for whatever level of public office, we MUST inquire as to their stand with regard to the life of the unborn. … Our vote is very often the only voice we have and we MUST VOTE NO to abortion … If a candidate for whatever office callously demands the slaughter of unborn children as a so-called right and vigorously supports organizations that profit from the multi-billion dollar abortion industry, then how can any other human right they may champion be truly meaningful?” — Bishop Joseph E. Strickland, Tyler, Texas

Link to John Gerard Lewis’s Catholic Voting and Mortal Sin:  tinyurl.com/s9sesqp

Link to the Voting Catholic website:  https://www.votingcatholic.com/