Catholic Leaders Send Joint Letter to President Trump Calling for the Respect of all life

BY ISN STAFF | January 27, 2017

 

Washington, DC – In anticipation of the March for Life on Friday, the Ignatian Solidarity Network,  with seven other national Catholic Organizations sent a joint letter to President Trump and Congressional leadership calling for a renewed commitment to the dignity of all life and promotion of the common good. Other signatories include Catholic Mobilizing Network, Catholic Climate Covenant, The Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States, The Leadership Conference of Women Religious, Conference of Major Superiors of Men, National Catholic Council of Women, and the Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach.

The letter, addressed to President Trump as well as majority and minority leaders of Congress, asks that as the new administration takes office, “the dignity of all life, a strong commitment to a just peace, and care for our common home hold a central focus.”

Christopher Kerr, Executive Director of the Ignatian Solidarity Network, commenting on the significance of organizations coming together for this joint letter stated, “as Catholics we are called to be voices for all who are marginalized by injustice, to demonstrate that all life has inherent dignity. This call is lived out in different ways throughout the Church but at its core is this key concept of the dignity of all human life.”

Calling for a renewed focus on life, the statement addresses a broad array of issues including climate change, global conflict and violence, immigration, healthcare, the refugee crisis, and the injustices present in our criminal justice system. The joint letter asks President Trump and Congressional leaders “to prioritize human life and to promote policies that will enable life to flourish.”

Karen Clifton, Executive Director of Catholic Mobilizing Network, remarked that in the aftermath of a such a divisive political season, “This is a teachable moment. This joint letter serves as an affirmation of our faith and its dedication to the right to life and protection of ​the vulnerable in our midst.”

Calling for the new administration to address the complex realities many in society face, the letter specifically calls for:

  • Global Conflict and Violence: A strong commitment to ending conflicts, restoring peace, and de-escalating violence and conflict with other nations.
  • Immigration: Comprehensive and humane immigration reform that provides a legal pathway for families to remain in our country, including maintaining the existing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and providing protection for young immigrants.
  • Climate Change: A commitment to comprehensive climate reform efforts, including honoring the Paris Agreement, contributing to the Green Climate Fund, and implementing a Clean Power Plan.
  • Health Care and Social Services: Strong support and implementation of services that support the well-being and self-sufficiency of the vulnerable such as: Medicaid, education and employment programs.
  • Refugee Crisis: Swift aid and support to address the refugee crisis and a rejection of proposals that would jeopardize the religious freedom of any groups, especially Muslims.
  • Criminal Justice: Restorative processes that aim to heal the harm caused by unjust societal systems, including: relations with law enforcement, policies regarding land ownership and water rights, employment, and housing opportunities.

The letter echoes the challenge Pope Francis laid before Congress in 2015 when he affirmed, “Our efforts must aim at restoring hope, righting wrongs, maintaining commitments, and thus promoting the well-being of individuals and of peoples.”

The letter concludes with Catholic leaders urging the President and Congressional leadership to “show you value life by leading our great country with justice, mercy, compassion, and wisdom.”

Click here to view a full transcript of the joint letter.

 

6 replies
  1. D.N.
    D.N. says:

    This is a ridiculous and offensive letter in light of a March for Human life in the womb. The cries are typical of the One-World Order which never ceases to promote their One-World agenda. Is a tree more important than a human life? Have you not heard by now that climate change is fraudulent science and is just being used as part of a bigger agenda? People are aware.

    Your list is long. How do the groups mentioned above feel about ending abortion? Not a word. But it always seems that birth control and population control are on the agenda. This letter is nothing more than taking a shameful advantage of an opportunity. God has chosen Donald Trump to lead this country and is giving him much wisdom and courage to see right through the false ideologies of certain groups and to put them in their rightful place.

    When we get the abortion issue resolved, God will see that everything else falls into place. Shame on all of you!

    Reply
    • Celestine
      Celestine says:

      God bless you D.N.
      May all the holy innocents taken by abortion pray for our country and the Society. God will not be mocked.

      Reply
    • CKO
      CKO says:

      What is your definition of wisdom, DN? Do you think diplomatic skills are an important part of wisdom? Do you think bullying is courageous? Inherently, “the dignity of all life” includes the unborn. You seem to acknowledge that only if it is wrapped up in a Republican package. Did God tell you that he won’t help refugees in war torn countries until Roe v Wade is repealed? Did you get a private glimpse of his “to do” list or something? Do you have a problem with the concept that an unborn child and a refugee each have equal human dignity and each deserve help? Do you think it might be a bit arrogant for you to “shame” these pro-life Democrats and leaders in social justice ministry for following the Beatitudes and seeing each of these vulnerable groups as worthy of life and care? You lost me foremost at: “God has chosen Donald Trump.” Donald Trump doesn’t love the poor, but he certainly loves (as he would say) the “poorly educated,” who are perhaps more susceptible to manipulation and more easily drawn in to scapegoating others, despite the utter lack of logic in his rhetoric. I think that God is not a sociopath DN. I think that God is not a bully. I think He doesn’t like it when people openly cheat on their wives, or try to get ex-girlfriends to have an abortion, or mock the disabled, or attack the Pope for caring about international suffering, or behave has Trump has done in such a short and sordid Presidency. I think maybe you’ve insulted God, D.N. Just a hunch.

      Reply
    • CKO
      CKO says:

      It represents this U.S. Catholic. Trump will ignore it, as he ignores everything aside from his own ego.

      Reply

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