We hold life sacred from conception to natural death. We oppose abortion, which regrettably is legal, and advocate for common sense restrictions on its use. We support non-embryonic stem cell research but oppose experiments on human embryos and cloning. We support quality end-of-life care and oppose legalizing assisted suicide. We oppose the use of capital punishment.

—CCC Legislative Priorities

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you."

—Jeremiah 1:5

Respect for life requires that science and technology should always be at the service of man and his integral development. Society as a whole must respect, defend and promote the dignity of every human person, at every moment and in every condition of that person's life."

—Pope John Paul II Evangelium Vitae, 81

• A clear review of Catholic teaching: 'Pro-life' Means No 'Ifs,' 'Ands' or 'Buts' by Reverend Richard Benson, C.M.
• New Poll: Americans Strongly Oppose Cloning Human Embryos for Any purpose
• Life Insight: Roe Mythology
• More American pro-life than pro-choice
• Selected quotes from Church Documents: On the Importance and Priority of Defending Innocent Human Life
• Selected quotes from Church documents: On the Pro-choice Position on Abortion

We Catholics are thoroughly and unabashedly pro-life .

Abortion

Following the landmark 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, Roe v. Wade, the bishops drew up a pastoral plan for pro-life activities. In November 2001, the bishops reissued their updated plan.

They asked that every effort be made "to reaffirm that human life is a precious gift from God; that each person who receives this gift has responsibilities toward God, toward self and toward others; and that society, through its laws and social institutions, must protect and sustain human life at every stage of its existence."

As a group they support Project Rachel , which operates as a network of professional counselors and priests, all trained to provide one-on-one spiritual and psychological care for those who are suffering because of an abortion.

The US Bishops’ office has partnered in the Women Deserve Better campaign with Feminists for Life, Life Resource Network's Women task Force, The Second Look Project, Solidarity with Women (Priests for Life), and the Silent No More Campaign, co-sponsored by NOEL (National Organization of Episcopalians for Life).The Women Deserve Better campaign is an educational effort aimed at highlighting the failure of abortion to meet the needs of women, and promoting women-centered solutions.

 
Death Penalty

In the United States, the death penalty is legal. In April 1999, the US Bishops released a Good Friday Appeal to End the Death Penalty, saying, "Respect for all human life and opposition to the violence in our society are at the root of our long-standing position against the death penalty. We see the death penalty as perpetuating a cycle of violence and promoting a sense of vengeance in our culture."

In July 1999, the California bishops issued a study guide, The Gospel of Life and Capital Punishment with the realization that there are presently over 500 individuals on death row in our state.

On March 21, 2005, the U. S. Catholic Bishops launched a major campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty and a new web site which includes a basic brochure, clear explanation of the Church’s teaching, and resources for education and action.

Human Sexuality

In March 2001, the California Catholic Conference published a reflection piece entitled, An Intrinsic Ethic of Meaning: Elements of the Catholic Moral Vision concerning Human Sexuality.

Natural Family Planning

The California Association of Natural Family Planning (CANFP) was founded in 1993 as a nonprofit organization promoting those methods of family planning that do not require the use of drugs or devices.

End of Life

Assisted suicide and euthanasia have begun to intrigue the American public. To counter the efforts to legalize this killing, the bishops undertook an education project for clergy and parish leaders, Embracing Our Dying.

In 2005, 2006 and 2007, an eclectic coalition, Californians Against Assisted Suicide , which includes physicians, nurses, hospice workers, advocates for low-income workers, a Latino civil rights organization, disability rights groups, as well as Catholic institutions (including the California Catholic Conference) and pro-life advocates, was successful in blocking the passage of a bill to legalize assisted suicide in California.

Father Richard Benson, CM, PhD, STD, St. John’s Seminary, has prepared a Pastoral Guide on End of Life Decisions in which he provides pertinent quotations from Church documents.

Other Reverence for Life Issues

There are many other issues that concern Respect Life offices, including in vitro fertilization, embryonic stem cell research and cloning.

For more information, we have prepared a brochure, Stem Cells and Cloning, available in both English and Spanish. (The brochure is letter-sized, 3-fold, to be printed front/back.)

The Catholic Church does not object to scientific research on adult stem cells or cord blood cells—because the donor of the stem cells is not destroyed.

The Church opposes the use of embryonic stem cells or cloned stem cells because the donor (embryo or clone) is destroyed by extracting the stem cells. Given the moral importance of the issue, it is urgent for all Catholics to educate themselves on the issue.