It’s time to be credible champions of Laudato Si’

The United States Senate failed on Monday to pass an act that would protect unborn children over twenty weeks old. Catholics across the nation were quick to denounce the Senate vote. In his statement, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities called the Senate's failure to pass the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act "appalling." The question now is, will Catholic eco-advocates add their voice to the outrage?

Given the speed with which so many eco-centered Catholic advocacy groups rightfully post on social media and email their base about the administration’s assault on environmental protections and the Paris Climate Accord, it would be appropriate now to make noise about the Senate’s disregard for innocent human life.

Here’s why:

First: Pope Francis has been clear on the “integral” nature of abortion and ecology. So have his predecessors. If we are to be credible champions of Laudato Si’, then we must be equal-opportunity advocates for all issues that protect life.

Second: Standing alongside our brothers and sisters on the front lines of the abortion wars will go a long way to heal ugly and growing divides within the Church.

Third: If we truly want to build a culture that can implement the Church’s eco-teachings, then we cannot ignore the evils at the root of our age’s disdain for the unborn. The message of so many today, especially on the Left, is a message of “empowerment” that really just means the power to take what one wishes at the expense of others. This is not Christian. Moreover, it is a mindset that causes so many of our eco woes, and will continue to unless, with God’s help, we change the world one hardened heart at a time.

In his statement, Cardinal Dolan said he calls “upon the public to tell the Senate that this vote is absolutely unacceptable."

And so let us Catholic eco-advocates heed the words of the cardinal, as well as those of our pontiffs—not to mention our conscious and Our Lord—and stand up to decry this most recent and brutal attack on life.

Photo: Flickr/American Life League