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Consistent Life Network

Location:

Silver Spring, MD
Type:

Network of nonprofits
Formation:

1987

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The Consistent Life Network is an international network of more than 200 organizations that support the “consistent ethic of life” by opposing abortion, war, the death penalty, and euthanasia. 1 2 The network also opposes what it views as other threats to life, including racism, poverty, economic inequality, and human trafficking. 3

Established in 1987, the organization was previously known as the Seamless Garment Network.  In 2002, the organization changed its name to the Consistent Life Network. 4

Background

The Consistent Life Network describes itself as a network of individuals and organizations that back the “consistent ethic of life” by opposing abortion, opposing war, opposing the death penalty, and opposing euthanasia. 5

Consistent Life Network is among pro-life organizations working outside the realm of politics and policy to change the culture surrounding abortion. The network works across the United States to support pregnant women and the unborn by providing services, such as counseling and maternity care, to persuade women not to have abortions. 6

The organization contends it is “non-sectarian and non-partisan,” though some of the member organizations tend to be left-leaning pro-life groups and left-progressive religious groups. 7 The network includes 200 organizations from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Nigeria, India, and Australia. These include Democrats for Life, Feminists for Life of America, the National Council of Catholic Women, the Pro-Life Nonviolent Project, Red Letter Christians, and Sojourners. 8

The organization was established in 1987 as the Seamless Garment Network. In 2002, the organization changed its name to the Consistent Life Network , calling itself “an international network for peace, justice, and life.” 9

Consistent Life Ethic

The consistent life ethic is the theory that all human life should be protected from violence from conception to natural death. 10 The consistent life ethic grew out of Catholic tradition. 11

The phrase emerged in December 1983 when Cardinal Joseph Bernardin delivered a Gannon lecture at Fordham University entitled, “A Consistent Ethic of Life: An American Catholic Dialogue.” 12

The theory is supposed to cut across political ideologies, since opposition to abortion is typically associated with the political right and opposition to the death penalty is typically associated with the political left. 13

Beyond abortion, the death penalty, and assisted suicide, the consistent life ethic also opposes what it deems to be other threats to life, such as racism, poverty, economic inequality, and human trafficking. 14

Research and Grants

The Institute for Integrated Social Analysis is the research arm of the Consistent Life Network. Rachel MacNair, a board member for the Consistent Life Network, is the director of the Institute for Integrated Social Analysis. 15

The Consistent Life Action Foundation provides grants for those it calls “defenders of life.” The grants are intended to support pregnant women and their unborn children; death row inmates; refugees, veterans, and others affected by war; the sick, elderly, and disabled; and other groups deemed to be at risk by the organization. 16

Recipients of Consistent Life Action Foundation grants do not have to share the organization’s views on all issues, and the foundation has a separate budget from the main organization. Foundation grant recipients have included Mission of Mercy, Abide Women’s Health Services, Catholic Relief Services, New Wave Feminists, and Precious Children of Portland. 17

Leadership

John Whitehead is the president of Consistent Life Network. 18 Christina Yao Pelliccioni is the president of the board for Consistent Life Network. 19 Rachel MacNair is the vice president of the board of the Consistent Life Network. She is also the director of the Institute for Integrated Social Analysis. 20

References

  1. “Who Are We.” Consistent Life Network. Accessed July 16, 2021. https://www.consistentlifenetwork.org/mission
  2. “Member Organizations.” Consistent Life Network. Accessed July 16, 2021. https://www.consistentlifenetwork.org/member-orgs
  3. Covich, Skylar. “Interview with John Whitehead, president of Consistent Life Network.” Solidarity Party. February 23, 2019. Accessed July 16, 2021. https://solidarity-party.org/2019/02/23/interview-with-john-whitehead-president-of-consistent-life-ethic/
  4. “Consistent Life Ethic.” Consistent Life Network. Accessed July 16, 2021. https://www.consistentlifenetwork.org/consistent-life-ethic
  5. “Who Are We.” Consistent Life Network. Accessed July 16, 2021. https://www.consistentlifenetwork.org/mission
  6. Olmstead, Gracy. “How Abortion Warps Our Politics.” The New York Times. February 5, 2020. Accessed July 16, 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/05/opinion/abortion-trump.html
  7. “Witnessing for Peace and Life.” Consistent Life Network. Accessed July 16, 2021. https://www.consistentlifenetwork.org/
  8. “Member Organizations.” Consistent Life Network. Accessed July 16, 2021. https://www.consistentlifenetwork.org/member-orgs
  9. “Consistent Life Ethic.” Consistent Life Network. Accessed July 16, 2021. https://www.consistentlifenetwork.org/consistent-life-ethic
  10. “Consistent Life Ethic.” Consistent Life Network. Accessed July 16, 2021. https://www.consistentlifenetwork.org/consistent-life-ethic
  11. Gushee, David. “Retrieving a consistent pro-life ethic.” Baptist News Global. March 6, 2007. Accessed July 16, 2021. https://baptistnews.com/article/opinion-retrieving-a-consistent-pro-life-ethic/#.YPD3ouhKjIV
  12. Kelly, James R. “Finding Renewal: Why the pro-life movement should return to its roots.” American Magazine. February 16, 2009. Accessed July 16, 2021. https://www.americamagazine.org/issue/686/article/finding-renewal
  13. Covich, Skylar. “Interview with John Whitehead, president of Consistent Life Network.” Solidarity Party. February 23, 2019. Accessed July 16, 2021. https://solidarity-party.org/2019/02/23/interview-with-john-whitehead-president-of-consistent-life-ethic/
  14. Covich, Skylar. “Interview with John Whitehead, president of Consistent Life Network.” Solidarity Party. February 23, 2019. Accessed July 16, 2021. https://solidarity-party.org/2019/02/23/interview-with-john-whitehead-president-of-consistent-life-ethic/
  15. “Institute for Integrated Social Analysis.” Consistent Life Network. Accessed July 16, 2021. https://www.consistentlifenetwork.org/institute-for-integrated-social-analysis
  16. “Consistent Life Network Action Foundation.” Consistent Life Network. Accessed July 16, 2021. https://www.consistentlifenetwork.org/action-foundation
  17. “Consistent Life Network Action Foundation.” Consistent Life Network. Accessed July 16, 2021. https://www.consistentlifenetwork.org/action-foundation
  18. Covich, Skylar. “Interview with John Whitehead, president of Consistent Life Network.” Solidarity Party. February 23, 2019. Accessed July 16, 2021. https://solidarity-party.org/2019/02/23/interview-with-john-whitehead-president-of-consistent-life-ethic/
  19. “Board.” Consistent Life Network. Accessed July 16, 2021. https://www.consistentlifenetwork.org/program-coordinator-and-board
  20. “Board.” Consistent Life Network. Accessed July 16, 2021. https://www.consistentlifenetwork.org/program-coordinator-and-board
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Consistent Life Network


Silver Spring, MD