The position of Priests for Life in regard to the "Consistent Ethic
of Life" is twofold: 1) properly understood, it is a valid and valuable
principle, and 2) it has been misunderstood both by some who are active in the
pro-life movement and by others.
In an effort to take a fresh and in-depth look at the teaching
proposed both by the late Joseph Cardinal Bernardin and by the United States
bishops, Priests for Life is happy to make available here the full text of some
of the major addresses given by Cardinal Bernardin, as well as a brief
commentary by Fr. Frank Pavone.
The Consistent Life
Ethic: A Look Back, A Look Around, A Look Ahead
(John L. Carr, University of St. Thomas Law Journal, Spring 2005) - PDF Format
A Consistent
Ethic of Life: An American-Catholic Dialogue
(Gannon Lecture, Fordham University, December 6, 1983)
A Consistent Ethic
of Life: Continuing the Dialogue
(William Wade Lecture Series, St. Louis University, March 11, 1984)
Linkage and the
Logic of the Abortion Debate
(Address for National Right to Life Convention, Kansas City, Missouri, June 7,
1984)
Address for
National Consultation on Obscenity, Pornography and Indecency
(Cincinnati, Ohio, September 6, 1984)
The Face of
Poverty Today: A Challenge for the Church
(Catholic University of America, January 17, 1985)
The Consistent Ethic of Life and Health Care Systems
(Foster McGaw Triennial Conference, Loyola University of Chicago, May 8, 1985)
The Death
Penalty in Our Time
(Address to Criminal Law Committee, Criminal Court of Cook County, May 14, 1985)
Address at
Seattle University (March 2, 1986)
The Consistent
Ethic of Life: The Challenge and the Witness of Catholic Health Care
(Catholic Medical Center, Jamaica, New York, May 18, 1986)
Address:
Consistent Ethic of Life Conference
(Portland, Oregon, October 4, 1986)
Cardinal
Bernardin's Message for "Respect Life Sunday" in the U.S.A., 1989