Drawing from the teachings from Pope John Paul II?s 1995 encyclical The Gospel of Life, various U.S. bishops? statements and talks from the late Cardinal Joseph Bernadin, this Catholic Update explores what it means to have a consistent ethic of life. Readers learn it is a comprehensive ethical system that links together many different issues by focusing attention on the basic value of life. This consistent ethic calls Catholics to respect the life in the womb, the life of a criminal, the life on welfare and the life of the dying.