Reflections from My Decades of Consistent Life Ethic Experience
by Fr. Jim Hewes In 1978, Frank Staropoli and I founded the Diocesan Human Life Commission, with our charter clearly being what was later called a “consistent life ethic” or a “seamless garment.” During those years, when we tried to reach out to pro-life groups, we ordinarily didn’t find the warmest reception because of our…
“The Affairs of a Handful of Natives”: Nuclear Testing and Racism
by John Whitehead While nuclear weapons haven’t been used in war for over 75 years, they’ve still killed and hurt people. Testing of nuclear weapons exposed many to radiation, with terrible health consequences. The people harmed have frequently been from different, far less powerful, ethnic groups. Nuclear weapons’ deadly effects have combined with racial injustice….
The Civil War Conundrum, 150 Years Later
by Rachel MacNair My great-grandfather was born a Quaker, but when he married my great-grandmother, he converted to being Methodist for her sake. His parents were Quakers, and once I took an interest in genealogy, I found that, through them I had Quaker ancestors (that is, members of the Religious Society of Friends) going all…
Angela Kennedy (1963 – 2020)
by Katharine Gilchrist Consistent ethic advocate Angela Kennedy has died at the age of 57 (November 26, 2020). She was the editor of the anthology Swimming against the Tide: Feminist Dissent on the Issue of Abortion (1997), which covered the topic of the consistent life ethic. Angela leaves behind her daughter Stevie and son Sean….
Killing the Disabled
by Tara Zoe Roshe (pen name), republished with permission from her Medium blog I am a disabled woman with rheumatoid arthritis, a disease that attacks the joints. I use a walker or a wheelchair in my daily life but was able-bodied a short 10 years ago. Over the past few years, my physical condition has…
The Biden Administration and Russia: Steps to Build a More Stable Relationship
by John Whitehead Among the many challenges Joseph Biden will face as the new president of the United States is how to handle the American relationship with Russia. US-Russian relations have now deteriorated to a level of mutual hostility comparable to that during the Cold War. Hostility between nations is always a serious concern for…
Hospital’s Attitude Adds to Couple’s Heartbreak
by Sarah Terzo Lindsey and April Woods lost their daughter Remy to a miscarriage in the second trimester. Remy was diagnosed in utero with 45x/46xy, a rare disorder that can cause severe disabilities. April and Lindsey refused abortion. April recalls a conversation with the doctors: At one point I asked “What’s worst-case scenario here” because…
My Ideas for 2021 Legislation
The 117th U.S. Congress started on January 3, 2021. Reminder: Opinions are those of the author and aren’t official for the Consistent Life Network as an organization. by Rachel MacNair My mind isn’t of the lobbying sort; my mind is of the conflict-resolution sort. This mainly means looking at the interests people have, rather…
Pandemics Related to Christmas
by Rachel MacNair Widespread plagues have been a part of the human condition throughout history. Therefore, it stands to reason traces of them can be found in a holiday season often used to help people cope and be resilient. It’s a Wonderful Life When George Bailey was still a boy, one of the ways…
The Random Death Sentence: COVID in Prisons and Jails
by Sarah Terzo “COVID and Corrections: A Profile of COVID Deaths in Custody in Texas” is a report released by the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas This report documents cases of deaths by COVID in state-run prisons and jails in Texas. It breaks down the demographics of the…