LETTER TO THE EDITOR

‘Sanctity of life’ means showing love for our neighbors

Posted

To the editor:

I noticed that the City of Chicago and the City of Baltimore have adopted a “sanctity of life” standard in their respective use of force policy. It is the most common sense addition to any government policy. The influence of the “sanctity of life” being at the fore as a reminder to all that at the center of their mission is the human being and their dignity. The State of Rhode Island ought to establish such a standard more broadly into each government department mission statement. All too often in today’s world we divide and separate people into various categories as to something akin to rank and status.

We must be nudged back to reality looking at every person as a human being and more in compatibility of being our neighbor. Orestes Brownson, a Catholic intellectual, believed the state/commonwealth and faith both had the same goal: Love of God and Love of Neighbor. Not seizing onto this age old wisdom may contribute to keeping us divided.

Our founder Roger Williams gave us the “Jesus Anchor” as our State Seal. He believed that “Christ’s ordinances” would civilize and moralize” us. This is not in conflict with his belief in “liberty of conscience” or religious freedom. He didn’t intend to “Christianize.” He did set the foundation for Rhode Island, the United States and later the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

We have a rich tradition to be proud of in Rhode Island, let’s ground ourselves with it. Will someone please pick up the mantle, step forward, and lead?