Consistent Life Ethic

The consistent life ethic is a fairly simple philosophy. It encompasses many issues - abortion, capital punishment, war, euthanasia, racism, nuclear arms, poverty and stresses how all these issues are inter-related.

The consistent life ethic places an "anti-" before each of these issues because violence against human life is not a solution for any of the problems faced by our society today.

To combat this notion of violence as the answer, the consistent life ethic provides a new and fresh look into how we live.

Fundamentally each and every human being is unique and important. No person is defined by someone else's choices. No one exists as a means to someone else's happiness, therefore all choices we make, as individuals and as a society, must be weighed in light of their impact on human life and dignity.

The right to life is an inalienable one, as life is sacred. If human life is sacred, then it must be protected. Human life is not more sacred at one point than another. People of one race or nation are not more sacred than others. The lives of the rich are not more sacred than those of the poor. All people have an equal right to life.

This must be reflected in our constitution, our attitudes, and our practices in every field.

This translates into a coherent social policy which seeks to protect the rights of the weakest and most vulnerable in our society, the unborn, the infirm, the refugee, the homeless, and the poor.

"If one contends, as we do, that the right of every fetus to be born should be protected by civil law and supported by civil consensus, then our moral, political and economic responsibilities do not stop at the moment of birth. Those who defend the right to life of the weakest among us must be equally visible in support of the quality of life of the powerless among us: the old and the young, the hungry and the homeless, the undocumented immigrant and the unemployed worker.

Such a quality of life posture translates into specific political and economic positions on tax policy, employment generation, welfare policy, nutrition and feeding programs, and health care. "

- Cardinal Joseph Bernardin in Consistent Ethic of Life (Sheed & Ward)

"We are committed to the protection of life, which is threatened in today's world by war, the arms race, abortion, poverty, racism, capital punishment, and euthanasia. We believe that these issues are linked under a "consistent ethic of life." We challenge those working on all or some of these issues to maintain a co-operative spirit of peace, reconciliation, and respect in protecting the unprotected." - the Mission Statement of the Seamless Garment Network.

CLE Pledge - Carol Crossed.

A Consistent Life Ethic Pledge of Non-Violence - the main ethos of this site.

Feminists For Life of America - Who are we?

What pro-life feminism means.

Priests for Life's Position on "The Consistent Ethic of Life"

Roman Catholic position - "consistent ethic of life" and "seamless garment" are teachings and terms proposed by the late Joesph Cardinal Bernardin.

Spiritual Diversity + Pro-Life Position

Feminism and Non-violence Studies Journal - special issue on spiritual diversity, with contributions from most religious and spiritual perspectives.

Philosophy of Pro-Life movement

From Galway for Life. A synopsis of pro-life philosophies.