"Bishop urges civil debate in South Dakota abortion referendum" - CNS

CNS:

RAPID CITY, S.D. (CNS) -- Bishop Blase J. Cupich of Rapid City has called for civil, reasoned public debate as South Dakota voters face a Nov. 7 referendum on legislation that would outlaw most abortions.

"The coming referendum presents an opportunity for South Dakota to model for the nation the manner in which substantial public debate regarding this volatile moral issue can be carried on with respect, honesty and conviction," Bishop Cupich wrote in the Sept. 11 issue of America, a national Catholic magazine published by the Jesuits in New York.

...

Bishop Cupich urged attention to three principles in the debate:

• "It must be recognized that both the issue of abortion and legal restrictions on abortion are inevitably moral questions informed by moral values."
• "There should be agreement that any discussion of abortion and the law must recognize both the suffering of the unborn children in abortion and the suffering of pregnant women in dire circumstances."
• "There must be a commitment to dialogue that is civil, interactive and substantial."

On framing abortion as a moral issue, Bishop Cupich said that science can help inform the debate, "but science does not resolve questions of moral value and moral choice."

[full article.]

I'm trying to keep my eyes peeled for what bishop-elect Swain has to say on the issue for his part.