Raising Lifelong Defenders of Dignity: Teaching the Next Generation the Consistent Life Ethic
by Nathanial John
Editor’s note: Nathaniel is a Christian writer and so writes from that perspective, but many of the comments will also apply to people from other traditions.
You can learn a lot about a society by listening to what it protects.
We live in a world that shouts loudly about rights—but often falls silent when it comes to the dignity of the voiceless. Whether it’s the unborn child, the poor family in a war-torn region, the elderly person with no advocate, or the wrongly incarcerated—we have a growing habit of dividing life into “worthy” and “inconvenient.”
For those of us raising or teaching young people, the question isn’t just what we believe—it’s what we’re passing on. Are we giving the next generation a piecemeal ethic? Or are we handing them a complete vision—a consistent, compassionate conviction that every life matters, from beginning to end?
Welcome to the Consistent Life Ethic (CLE)—not just a theory, but a call to live, parent, and educate with holy integrity. This article isn’t just a roadmap; it’s an invitation to raise youth who don’t just react to headlines but live by a deeper principle: that all human life is sacred, and no one should be discarded.
What Is the Consistent Life Ethic, Really?
The CLE isn’t a political movement. It’s not a slogan. It’s a lens—a way of seeing people.
Coined by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin in the 1980s, the Consistent Life Ethic affirms the sacredness and interconnectedness of all human life. It challenges us to speak with one voice against abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, war, systemic poverty, racism, and every other force that devalues or destroys human beings.
It’s not about picking one issue that stirs our passion and ignoring the rest. It’s about being consistent. If we believe life is valuable, we must protect it—everywhere it’s threatened.
And that’s not easy in today’s world.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
Young people today are growing up in a world full of contradictions. They’re told to “stand for justice,” but justice often gets fragmented by partisanship. They’re told to “believe in equality,” but some lives are treated as expendable.
If we want to raise kids who are more than activists—who are advocates with a moral compass—we need to help them understand life issues not as isolated controversies, but as a deeply connected moral vision.
Making It Real: Teaching the Interconnectedness of Life Issues
This isn’t about dumping all the world’s problems on a child. It’s about helping them see people through God’s eyes. Here’s how:
1. Use Real Stories, Not Just Arguments
Instead of opening with a political debate, open with a name. A face. A story.
- The teenage mother who is wrestling with an unexpected pregnancy.
- The veteran who is struggling with trauma and homelessness.
- The prisoner on death row who met Jesus and changed—but may never be free.
When you teach through human stories, you show that life issues are people issues. And that’s what touches the heart.
2. Connect the Dots with Curiosity
Help kids and teens ask better questions:
- Why are people more likely to choose abortion when they’re poor or unsupported?
- How does racism affect access to healthcare or housing?
- Why do some people feel like death is more dignified than life?
These questions don’t just educate—they form empathy. And empathy is the starting point of every lasting conviction.
3. Use Scripture as a Compass, Not a Weapon
If teaching from a biblical perspective, let the Bible shape the worldview, not just back it up. Verses like:
- Micah 6:8 – “Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly . . .”
- Psalm 139 – “You knit me together in my mother’s womb.”
- Matthew 25 – “Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for Me.”
Show them that God cares not just about the start of life, but the whole of life.
Raising Advocates, Not Just Opinion Holders
Let’s be honest—most teenagers aren’t looking to be theologians or politicians. But they are looking for something real to live for.
Here’s how to inspire them:
1. Give Them a Reason to Care
Talk about justice not as a cause, but as a calling. We’re not raising “pro-lifers” or “social justice warriors.” We’re raising peacemakers. Whole-hearted, courageous defenders of life and dignity.
Let them see how this ethic transforms everything:
- The way they treat the kid at school who’s different.
- How they view addiction, mental illness, or poverty.
- How they think about war, forgiveness, and mercy.
2. Help Them Take Action, Not Just Take a Side
Help youth translate conviction into compassion:
- Start a “Dignity for All” campaign at school or church.
- Volunteer at shelters, soup kitchens, or pro-life clinics.
- Write letters to leaders or make art that speaks truth to culture.
Teach them that change doesn’t always roar. Sometimes it whispers through kindness, consistency, and courage.
Tools for the Journey: Resources for Parents and Educators
You don’t have to figure it out alone. Here are some resources to support you:
🧠 Learning Materials
- Consistently Pro-Life: The Ethics of Bloodshed in Ancient Christianity by Rob Arner – Theological and practical introduction to CLE.
- “Pro-Life Kids!” by Bethany Bomberger – A colorful, age-appropriate picture book.
- Youth Education: CL Kids! , a project of the Consistent Life Network, offers several resources.
📲 Websites
- Consistent Life Network – Articles, advocacy tools, and events.
- Rehumanize International – Especially great for youth-led initiatives.
- Students for Life – Strong on student activism with a pro-life focus.
🎧 Podcasts & Media
- Peace & Life Conversations – from the Consistent Life Network
- Many more can be found through searches on YouTube.
A Better Way Forward
Raising children with a Consistent Life Ethic doesn’t mean giving them all the answers. It means giving them eyes to see—really see—every person as someone with inherent worth, or in theological terms, made in the image of God.
It means teaching them that human dignity doesn’t come from usefulness, popularity, or perfection—but from the God who created us.
In a world full of contradictions, we can raise a generation that’s consistent. Not perfect, but principled. Not loud, but rooted.
And maybe—just maybe—these kids we teach today will be the ones who finally break the cycles of violence, division, and dehumanization.
Because once you truly believe every life matters . . .
You start living like every life matters.
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For more of our posts about educating, see:
Two Practical Dialogue Tips for Changing More Minds about Abortion
Dialog on Life Issues: Avoiding Some Obstacles to Communication
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