Amidst attacks on human life, bishops of Brazil support conscientious objection

Brasilia, Brazil, Sep 29, 2009 / 20:12 pm

In a recent statement on the right to conscientious objection, the bishops of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops of Brazil encouraged those who work untiringly in the defense of human life and reiterated that all people have the right to object against practices such as abortion.

In their statement the bishops praised the work of those who promote human life “in all stages of its development, especially of those who have no way to defend themselves.”

“In our society, marked by so many contrasting concepts of the human being and his dignity, all those who take on a commitment to promote justice and defend life certainly face great resistance and opposition,” they observed.

“Moved by Christian ideals and committed to the grave cause of the defense of human life, we cannot acquiesce to any type of pressure or become discouraged at the difficulties that we continuously confront,” the bishops stressed.

For this reason, “Every person has the right to manifest their conscientious objection to anything that is contrary to the demands of the moral order, to principles and ethical values and to their professed faith, such that nobody, for any reason, should be punished or forced to act against that which their conscience dictates to them.”

At certain times, the bishops said, “It is necessary to say: ‘We must obey God rather than men.’”