I invite you to reflect upon and pray about the pastoral statement. It flows from my deep concern for the unborn, but also from genuine concern about those who misguidedly support abortion, including Catholic voters and Catholics in public life. Patience, compassion and pastoral concern must always characterize our dealings with women who, for whatever reason, seek to deal with unwanted pregnancy by the expedient of abortion. At the same time, it is important to note that sound pastoral practice can only be based on the truth. And the truth is that direct abortion is the unjust killing of innocent human beings.
Catholics have the same freedom as other citizens in making political choices.
They also have the duty to follow a well-formed conscience. This pastoral statement respects this freedom and does not favor one political party over another or recommend one candidate in preference to another. It does attempt, however, to make clear the moral framework within which Catholics must make their political decisions if they are to be responsible. Catholic faith and teaching have condemned abortion since the earliest days of the church. Modern technology has made the question more urgent, but science has confirmed our understanding that at conception a unique human being begins.