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apply and act on some of our principles, Catholics cannot ignore their ines-
capable moral challenges or simply dismiss the Church’s guidance or policy
directions that flow from these principles. For a more complete review of these
policy directions and their moral foundations, see the statements listed at the
end of this document.
Human Life
64. Our 1998 statement,
Living the Gospel of Life
, declares, “
Abortion and
euthanasia
have become preeminent threats to human life and dignity
because they directly attack life itself, the most fundamental good and the
condition for all others” (no. 5).
Abortion
, the deliberate killing of a human
being before birth, is never morally acceptable and must always be opposed.
Cloning
and
destruction of human embryos
for research or even for poten-
tial cures are always wrong. The purposeful taking of human life by
assisted
suicide and euthanasia
is not an act of mercy, but an unjustifiable assault on
human life.
Genocide, torture,
and the
direct and intentional targeting of
noncombatants in war or terrorist attacks
are always wrong.
65. Laws that legitimize any of these practices are profoundly unjust and
immoral. Our Conference supports laws and policies to protect human
life to the maximum degree possible, including constitutional protection
for the unborn and legislative efforts to end abortion, assisted suicide,
and euthanasia. We also promote a culture of life by supporting laws and
programs that encourage childbirth and adoption over abortion and by
addressing poverty, providing health care, and offering other assistance to
pregnant women, children, and families.
66. The USCCB calls for greater assistance for those who are sick and dying,
through health care for all and effective and compassionate palliative care and
hospice care. The end of life is a holy moment, a moment that marks a prepara-
tion for life with God, and it is to be treated with reverence and accompaniment.
The end of life is as sacred as the beginning of life and requires treatment that
honors the true dignity of the human person as created in the image of the living
God. We recognize that addressing this complex issue effectively will require
collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors and across party lines.
Policies and decisions regarding
biotechnology
and human experimentation
should respect the inherent dignity of human life from its very beginning, regard-
less of the circumstances of its origin. Respect for human life and dignity is also
the foundation for essential efforts to address and overcome the hunger, disease,
poverty, and violence that take the lives of so many innocent people.