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A Consistent Ethic of Life: Continuing the Dialogue
The William Wade Lecture Series
St. Louis University
Joseph Cardinal Bernardin
March 11, 1984
I first wish to express my appreciation to St. Louis University
for the invitation to deliver the 1984 Wade Lecture.
"The William Wade Lecture Series" is a fitting
way to celebrate Father Wade's life as a priest, a
philosopher, and a teacher. His interest in the moral
issues confronting today's Church and society was
an inspiration to all who knew him. I hope that my
participation in this series will help to keep alive
his memory and his ideals.
Three months ago I gave a lecture at Fordham University
honoring another Jesuit educator, Father John Gannon,
and I addressed the topic of a consistent ethic of
life. That lecture has generated a substantial discussion
both inside and outside the Church on the linkage
of life issues, issues which, I am convinced, constitute
a "seamless garment." This afternoon I would
like to extend the discussion by expanding upon the
idea of a consistent ethic of life.
The setting of a Catholic university is one deliberately
chosen for these lectures. My purpose is to foster
the kind of sustained intellectual analysis and debate
which the Jesuit tradition has cultivated throughout
its history. The discussion must go beyond the university
but it will not occur without the involvement of Catholic
universities. I seek to call attention to the resources
in the Catholic tradition for shaping a viable public
ethic. I hope to engage others in the Church and in
the wider civil society in an examination of the challenges
to human life which surround us today, and the potential
of a consistent ethic of life. The Fordham lecture
has catalyzed a vigorous debate; I seek to enlarge
it, not to end it.
I will address three topics today: (1) the case for a consistent
ethic of life; (2) the distinct levels of the problem;
and (3) the contribution of a consistent ethic to
the Church and society generally.
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