Pastoral plan for pro-life activities : November 20, 1975 / National Conference of Catholic Bishops.


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PASTORAL PLAN

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PRO-LIFE

ACTIVITIES

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NATIONAL CONFERENCE
OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS

November 20, 1975



Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2016

https://archive.org/details/pastoralplanforpcath



PASTORAL PLAN

FOR

PRO-LIFE ACTIVITIES

All should be persuaded that human life
and the task of transmitting it are not reali-

ties bound up with this world alone. Hence
they cannot be measured or perceived only
in terms of it, but always have a bearing on

the eternal destiny of men. . . . For God,

the Lord of life, has conferred on men the
surpassing ministry of safeguarding life in a

manner which is worthy of man. Therefore
from the moment of its conception life must
be guarded with the greatest care, while

abortion and infanticide are unspeakable
crimes.

Constitution on the Church
in the Modern World

R
ESPECT FOR HUMAN LIFE has been gradual-
ly declining in our society during the past

decade. To some degree this reflects a secular-
izing trend and a rejection of moral imperatives

based on belief in God and His plan for creation.
It also reflects a tendency for individuals to give

primary attention to what is personally rewarding
and satisfying to them, to the exclusion of re-
sponsible concern for the well-being of other

persons and society. These trends, along with
others, have resulted in laws and judicial deci-
sions which deny or ignore basic human rights
and moral responsibilities for the protection and
promotion of the common good. In this category
are efforts to establish permissive abortion laws,

the abortion decisions of the United States Su-
preme Court in 1973 denying any effective legal
protection to the unborn child, and the growing
attempts to legitimatize positive euthanasia
through so-called “death with dignity” laws.

In the Declaration of Independence, our Found-
ing Fathers point to the right to life as the first
of the inalienable rights given by the Creator.

In fulfillment of our pastoral responsibilities,
the members of the National Conference of
Catholic Bishops have repeatedly affirmed that
human life is a precious gift from God; that each
person who receives this gift has responsibilities

1



toward God, toward self and toward others; and

that society, through its laws and social institu-
tions, must protect and sustain human life at
every stage of its existence. Recognition of the

dignity of the human person, made in the image
of God, lies at the very heart of our individual and
social duty to respect human life.

In this Pastoral Plan we hope to focus atten-
tion on the pervasive threat to human life arising
from the present situation of permissive abortion.

Basic human rights are violated in many ways:
by abortion and euthanasia, by injustice and the
denial of equality to certain groups of persons,

by some forms of human experimentation, by
neglect of the underprivileged and disadvantaged
who deserve the concern and support of the en-
tire society. Indeed, the denial of the God-given

right to life is one aspect of a larger problem.
But it is unlikely that efforts to protect other

rights will be ultimately successful if life itself is

continually diminished in value.

In focusing attention on the sanctity of human
life, therefore, we hope to generate a greater
respect for the life of each person in our society.

We are confident that greater respect for human
life will result from continuing the public dis-
cussion of abortion and from efforts to shape our
laws so as to protect the life of all persons, in-

cluding the unborn.

Thus this Pastoral Plan seeks to activate the
pastoral resources of the Church in three major

efforts:

1. an educational/public information effort

to inform, clarify and deepen understand-

ing of the basic issues;

2. a pastoral effort addressed to the specific

needs of women with problems related to
pregnancy and to those who have had or
have taken part in an abortion;

3. a public policy effort directed toward the

legislative, judicial and administrative

areas so as to insure effective legal pro-

tection for the right to life.

This Pastoral Plan is addressed to and calls

upon all Church-sponsored or identifiably Catho-

lic national, regional, diocesan and parochial or-

ganizations and agencies to pursue the three-fold

effort. This includes ongoing dialogue and co-

operation between the NCCB/USCC on the one

2



hand, and priests, religious and lay persons, in-

dividually and collectively, on the other hand. In

a special way we invite the continued coopera-
tion of national Catholic organizations.

At the same time, we urge Catholics in various
professional fields to discuss these issues with

their colleagues and to carry the dialogue into

their own professional organizations. In similar
fashion, we urge those in research and academic
life to present the Church's position on a wide

range of topics that visibly express her commit-

ment to respect for life at every stage and in
every condition. Society's responsibility to insure

and protect human rights demands that the right
to life be recognized and protected as antecedent
to and the condition of all other rights.

Dialogue is most important—and has already
proven highly fruitful—among Churches and re-
ligious groups. Efforts should continue at ecu-

menical consultation and dialogue with Judaism
and other Christian bodies, and also with those
who have no specific ecclesial allegiance. Dia-
logue among scholars in the field of ethics is a
most important part of this interfaith effort.

The most effective structures for pastoral ac-

tion are in the diocese and the parish. While

recognizing the roles of national, regional and

statewide groupings, this Plan places its primary

emphasis on the roles of diocesan organizations

and the parish community. Thus, the resources

of the diocese and parish become most important
in its implementation.

I. Public Information/Education Program

In order to deepen respect for human life and
heighten public opposition to permissive abor-

tion, a two-fold educational effort presenting the

case for the sanctity of life from conception on-
wards is required.

The first aspect, a public information effort,
is directed to the general public. It creates

awareness of the threats to human dignity in-
herent in a permissive abortion policy, and the
need to correct the present situation by estab-
lishing legal safeguards for the right to life. It
gives the abortion issue continued visibility, and
sensitizes the many people who have only gen-
eral perceptions of the issue but very little by
way of firm conviction or commitment. The public
information effort is important to inform the

3



public discussion, and it proves that the Church

is serious about and committed to its announced

long-range pro-life effort. It is accomplished in

a variety of ways, such as accurate reporting of

newsworthy events, the issuance of public state-

ments, testimony on legislative issues, letters to

editors.

The second aspect, an intensive long-range
education effort, leads people to a clearer under-

standing of the issues, to firm conviction, and to

commitment. It is part of the Church’s essential
responsibility that it carry forward such an effort,

directed primarily to the Catholic community.

Recognizing the value of legal, medical and

sociological arguments, the primary and ulti-

mately most compelling arguments must be theo-
logical and moral. Respect for life must be seen
in the context of God's love for mankind re-
flected in creation and redemption and man’s re-
lationship to God and to other members of the
human family. The Church's opposition to abor-
tion is based on Christian teaching on the dignity

of the human person, and the responsibility to
proclaim and defend basic human rights, espe-
cially the right to life.

This intensive education effort should present

the scientific information on the humanity of the
unborn child and the continuity of human growth
and development throughout the months of fetal
existence; the responsibility and necessity for so-
ciety to safeguard the life of the child at every

stage of its existence; the problems that may ex-
ist for a woman during pregnancy; and more
humane and morally acceptable solutions to
these problems.

The more intensive educational effort should

be carried on by all who participate in the
Church's educational ministry, notably:

—Priests and religious, exercising their teach-
ing responsibility in the pulpit, in other teach-

ing assignments, and through parish pro-

grams.

—All Church-sponsored or identifiably Catholic
organizations, national, regional, diocesan and

parochial, carrying on continuing education ef-

forts that emphasize the moral prohibition of

abortion and the reasons for carrying this

teaching into the public policy area.

—Schools, CCD and other Church-sponsored

4



educational agencies providing moral teaching,

bolstered by medical, legal and sociological

data, in the schools, etc. The USCC Depart-
ment of Education might serve as a catalyst
and resource for the dioceses.

—Church-related social service and health agen-
cies carrying on continuing education efforts

through seminars and other appropriate pro-
grams, and by publicizing programs and serv-
ices offering alternatives to abortion.

Although the primary purpose of the intensive

educational program is the development of pro-
life attitudes and the determined avoidance of
abortion by each person, the program must ex-
tend to other issues that involve support of hu-

man life: there must be internal consistency in
the pro-life commitment.

The annual Respect Life Program sets the
abortion problem in the context of other issues
where human life is endangered or neglected,
such as the problems facing the family, youth,
the aging, the mentally retarded, as well as spe-

cific issues such as poverty, war, population con-
trol, and euthanasia. This program is helpful to
parishes in calling attention to specific problems
and providing program formats and resources.

II. Pastoral Care

The Church’s pastoral effort is rooted in and
manifests her faith commitment. Underlying
every part of our program is the need for prayer
and sacrifice. In building the house of respect
for life, we labor in vain without God’s merciful
help.

Three facets of the Church’s program of pas-
toral care deserve particular attention.

1) Moral Guidance and Motivation

Accurate information regarding the nature
of an act and freedom from coercion are
necessary in order to make responsible
moral decisions. Choosing what is morally
good also requires motivation. The Church
has a unique responsibility to transmit the
teaching of Christ and to provide moral
principles consistent with that teaching. In

regard to abortion, the Church should pro-
vide accurate information regarding the

nature of the act, its effects and far-
reaching consequences, and should show
that abortion is a violation of God’s laws
of charity and justice. In many instances,

5



the decision to do what is in conformity

with God's law will be the ultimate determi-

nant of the moral choice.

2) Service and care for women and unborn
children.

Respect for human life motivates individu-
als and groups to reach out to those with

special needs. Programs of service and

care should be available to provide women
with alternate options to abortion. Speci-

fically, these programs should include:

—adequate education and material sus-
tenance for women so that they may
choose motherhood responsibly and

freely in accord with a basic commit-

ment to the sanctity of life;

—nutritional, pre-natal, childbirth and
post-natal care for the mother, and nu-

tritional and pediatric care for the child

throughout the first year of life;

—intensified scientific investigation into
the causes and cures of maternal dis-

ease and/or fetal abnormality;

—continued development of genetic
counseling and gene therapy centers

and neo-natal intensive care facilities;

—extension of adoption and foster care
facilities to those who need them;

—pregnancy counseling centers that pro-
vide advice, encouragement and support
for every woman who faces difficulties
related to pregnancy;

—counseling services and opportunities
for continuation of education for unwed
mothers;

—special understanding, encouragement
and support for victims of rape;

—continued efforts to remove the social
stigma that is visited on the woman
who is pregnant out of wedlock and on
her child.

Many of these services have been and will
continue to be provided by Church-spon-

sored health care and social service agen-
cies, involving the dedicated efforts of pro-

fessionals and volunteers. Cooperation with
other private agencies and increased sup-

6



port in the quest for government assistance

in many of these areas are further exten-
sions of the long-range effort.

3) Reconciliation

The Church is both a means and an agent
of reconciliation. As a spiritual entity, the

Church reconciles men and women to God.
As a human community, the Church pur-
sues the task of reconciling men and wom-
en with one another and with the entire
community. Thus all of the faithful have
the duty of promoting reconciliation.

Sacramentally, the Church reconciles the
sinner through the Sacrament of Penance,
thereby restoring the individual to full sec-

ramental participation. The work of recon-
ciliation is also continually accomplished

in celebrating and participating in the
Eucharist. Finally, the effects of the

Church’s reconciling efforts are found in

the full support of the Christian community
and the renewal of Christian life that re-
sults from prayer, the pursuit of virtue and
continued sacramental participation.

Granting that the grave sin of abortion is

symptomatic of many human problems,
which often remain unsolved for the indi-

vidual woman, it is important that we
realize that God’s mercy is always avail-

able and without limit, that the Christian

life can be restored and renewed through

the sacraments, and that union with God
can be accomplished despite the problems

of human existence.

III. Legislative/Public Policy Effort

In recent years there has been a growing

realization throughout the world that protecting

and promoting the inviolable rights of persons

are essential duties of civil authority, and that

the maintenance and protection of human rights
are primary purposes of law. As Americans, and
as religious leaders, we have been committed to
governance by a system of law that protects the

rights of individuals and maintains the common
good. As our founding fathers believed, we hold
that all law is ultimately based on Divine Law,

and that a just system of law cannot be in con-

flict with the law of God.

Abortion is a specific issue that highlights the

relationship between morality and law. As a hu-

7



man mechanism, law may not be able fully to
articulate the moral imperative, but neither can

legal philosophy ignore the moral order. The
abortion decisions of the United States Supreme
Court (January 22, 1973) violate the moral
order, and have disrupted the legal process which
previously attempted to safeguard the rights of
unborn children. A comprehensive pro-life legis-
lative program must therefore include the fol-
lowing elements:

a) Passage of a constitutional amendment
providing protection for the unborn child
to the maximum degree possible.

b) Passage of federal and state laws and adop-
tion of administrative policies that will re-

strict the practice of abortion as much as
possible.

c) Continual research into and refinement and
precise interpretation of Roe and Doe and
subsequent court decisions.

d) Support for legislation that provides al-
ternatives to abortion.

Accomplishment of this aspect of this Pastoral
Plan will undoubtedly require well planned and
coordinated political action by citizens at the na-

tional, state and local levels. This activity is not
simply the responsibility of Catholics, nor should

it be limited to Catholic groups or agencies. It

calls for widespread cooperation and collabora-
tion. As citizens of this democracy, we encour-
age the appropriate political action to achieve
these legislative goals. As leaders of a religious
institution in this society, we see a moral im-
perative for such political activity.

MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAM
The challenge to restore respect for human

life in our society is a task of the Church that
reaches out through all institutions, agencies

and organizations. Diverse tasks and various
goals are to be achieved. The following repre-
sents a systematic organization and allocation
of the Church’s resources of people, institutions

and finances which can be activated at various
levels to restore respect for human life, and in-
sure protection of the right to life of the unborn.

1. State Coordinating Committee

A. It is assumed that overall coordination in
each state will be the responsibility of the State

Catholic Conference or its equivalent. Where a

8



State Catholic Conference is in process of for-

mation or does not exist, bishops’ representa-

tives from each diocese might be appointed as

the core members of the State Coordinating Com-
mittee.

B. The State Coordinating Committee will be
comprised of the Director of the State Catholic

Conference and the diocesan Pro-Life coordi-
nators. At this level it would be valuable to

have one or more persons who are knowledgeable
about public traditions, mores and attitudes and
are experienced in legislative activity. This might

be the Public Affairs Specialist referred to under

the Diocesan Pro-Life Committee, or, e.g., an in-

dividual with prior professional experience in

legislative or governmental service. In any case,

it should be someone with a practical under-
standing of contemporary political techniques.

C. The primary purposes of the State Coordi-
nating Committee are:

—to monitor the political trends in the state
and their implications for the abortion effort;

—to coordinate the efforts of the various
dioceses; and to evaluate progress in the
dioceses and congressional districts;

—to provide counsel regarding the specific
political relationships within the various

parties at the state level.

2. The Diocesan Pro-Life Committee

a) General Purpose—The purpose of the
Committee is to coordinate groups and
activities within the diocese (to restore

respect for human life), particularly efforts
to effect passage of a constitutional amend-
ment to protect the unborn child. In its
coordinating role, the Committee will rely
on information and direction from the
Bishops’ Pro-Life Office and the National
Committee for a Human Life Amendment.
The Committee will act through the dio-
cesan Pro-Life Director, who is appointed
by the Bishop to direct pro-life efforts in
the diocese.

b) Membership

—Diocesan Pro-Life Director (Bishop’s Rep-
resentative)

—Respect Life Coordinator

9



—Liaison with State Catholic Conference
—Public Affairs Advisor
—Representatives of Diocesan Agencies

(Priests, Religious, Lay Organizations)

—Legal Advisor—Representative of Pro-Life
Groups

—Representatives of Parish Pro-Life Com-
mittees

—Congressional District Representative(s)
c) Objectives:

1. Provide direction and coordination of dio-
cesan and parish education/information
efforts and maintain working relationship
with all groups involved in congressional
district activity.

2. Promote and assist in the development of
those groups, particularly voluntary groups
involved in pregnancy counseling, which
provide alternatives and assistance to
women who have problems related to
pregnancy.

3. Encourage the development of “grass-
roots" political action organizations.

4. Maintain communications with National
Committee for a Human Life Amendment
in regard to federal activity, so as to pro-

vide instantaneous information concerning

local Senators and Representatives.

5. Maintain a local public information effort

directed to press and media. Include
vigilance in regard to public media, seek

“equal time," etc.

6. Develop close relationships with each
Senator or Representative.

3. The Parish Pro-Life Committee

The parish Pro-Life Committee should include

a delegate from the Parish Council, representa-

tives of various adult and youth parish organiza-

tions, members of local Knights of Columbus
Councils, Catholic Daughters of America Chap-

ters and other similar organizations.

Objectives:

a) Sponsor and conduct intensive education

programs touching all groups within the

10



parish, including schools and religious edu-

cation efforts.

b) Promote and sponsor pregnancy counsel-

ing units and other alternatives to abortion.

c) Through ongoing public information pro-

grams generate public awareness of the
continuing effort to obtain a constitutional

amendment. The NCCB, the National Com-
mittee for a Human Life Amendment and
the State and Diocesan Coordinating Com-
mittees should have access to every con-

gressional district for information, consul-

tation and coordination of action. A chair-
person should be designated in each dis-

trict who will coordinate the efforts of
parish pro-life groups, K of C groups, etc.,
and seek ways of cooperating with non-
sectarian pro-life groups, including right-

to-life organizations. In each district, the

parishes will provide one basic resource,
and the clergy will have an active role in
the overall effort.

d) Prudently convince others—Catholics and
non-Catholics—of the reasons for the nec-
essity of a constitutional amendment to
provide a base for legal protection for the
unborn.

4. The Pro-Life Effort in the Congressional
District

Passage of a constitutional amendment de-
pends ultimately on persuading members of Con-
gress to vote in favor of such a proposal. This

effort at persuasion is part of the democratic

process, and is carried on most effectively in the
congressional district or state from which the
representative is elected. Essentially, this effort

demands ongoing public information activity and
careful and detailed organization. Thus it is
absolutely necessary to encourage the develop-
ment in each congressional district of an identi-
fiable, tightly-knit and well organized pro-life
unit. This unit can be described as a public

interest group or a citizens’ lobby. No matter
what it is called:

a) its task is essentially political, that is, to

organize people to help persuade the elect-
ed representatives; and

b) its range of action is limited, that is, it is
focused on passing a constitutional amend-
ment.

11



As such, the congressional district pro-life

group differs from the diocesan, regional or par-

ish pro-life coordinator or committee, whose task
is pedagogic and motivational, not simply politi-

cal, and whose range of action includes a variety
of efforts calculated to reverse the present at-

mosphere of permissiveness with respect to abor-
tion. Moreover, it is an agency of the citizens,

operated, controlled and financed by these same
citizens. It is not an agency of the Church, nor

is it operated, controlled, or financed by the

Church.

The congressional district pro-life action group
should be bipartisan, non-sectarian, inclined

toward political action. It is complementary to
denominational efforts, to professional groups,

to pregnancy counselling and assistance groups.

Each congressional district should have a

chairperson who may serve as liaison with the
Diocesan Coordinating Committee. In dioceses

with many congressional districts, this may be
arranged through a regional representation struc-

ture.

Objectives of the Congressional District Pro-

Life Group

1. To conduct a continuing public information

effort to persuade all elected officials and

potential candidates that abortion must be

legally restricted.

2. To counterbalance propaganda efforts op-

posed to a constitutional amendment.

3. To persuade ail residents in the congres-

sional district that permissive abortion is

harmful to society and that some restric-
tion is necessary.

4. To persuade all residents that a constitu-

tional amendment is necessary as a first
step toward legally restricting abortion.

5. To convince all elected officials and po-

tential candidates that “the abortion is-

sue” will not go away and that their posi-

tion on it will be subject to continuing

public scrutiny.

6. To enlist sympathetic supporters who will
collaborate in persuading others.

7. To enlist those who are generally sup-
portive so that they may be called upon

12



when needed to communicate to the

elected officials.

8. To elect members of their own group or
active sympathizers to specific posts in all

local party organizations.

9. To set up a telephone network that will

enable the committee to take immediate

action when necessary.

10. To maintain an informational file on the

pro-life position of every elected official

and potential candidate.

11. To work for qualified candidates who will
vote for a constitutional amendment, and
other pro-life issues.

12. To maintain liaison with all denominational
leaders (pastors) and all other pro-life

groups in the district.

This type of activity can be generated and
coordinated by a small, dedicated and politically
alert group. It will need some financial support,
but its greatest need is the commitment of other
groups who realize the importance of its pur-
poses, its potential for achieving those pur-

poses, and the absolute necessity of working
with the group to attain the desired goals.

Conclusion

The challenges facing American society as a

result of the legislative and judicial endorsement

of permissive abortion are enormous. But the

Church and individual Catholics must not avoid
the challenge. Although the process of restoring

respect for human life at every stage of exist-
ence may be demanding and prolonged, it is an
effort which both requires and merits courage,

patience, and determination. In every age the

Church has faced unique challenges calling forth

faith and courage. In our time and society, re-

storing respect for human life and establishing
a system of justice which protects the most basic
human rights are both a challenge and an oppor-
tunity whereby the Church proclaims her com-
mitment to Christ’s teaching on human dignity
and the sanctity of the human person.

13



1975

Publications Office

UNITED STATES CATHOLIC CONFERENCE
1312 Massachusetts Avenue N.W.

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