We endorse the content of that statement and, in a particular way, wish to underscore the absolute centrality of the first issue, the protection of human life. Support and promotion of abortion by any candidate is always wrong and can never be justified. We will never cease to denounce abortion and euthanasia and teach all Catholics that to support those positions is to support death over life. There are many other issues that the candidates will be addressing in this campaign. While each deserves our careful attention and informed reflection, there are three, which seem to us to have particular relevance in this Jubilee Year.
Standards are too low and children are being cheated in too many government schools.
However, public education is not the only way to educate children and it should not have a monopoly on educational resources. Parents always have the primary right to determine the education they want for their children. In justice, the government should find ways to make parental choice real and effective, including vouchers so that the poor and middle income families will have the same choices as the wealthy, using these funds to send children to the school of their choice. Health care is a national problem that needs to be addressed both nationally and locally. All citizens should have access to affordable health care.