Freedom of conscience is a fundamental Catholic value which obliges us to respect the conscience of others. The law of the land in a democratic religiously pluralistic society must accommodate everyone's freedom on conscience. 

Legal abortion and legal same sex marriage does not in any way infringe on Catholics exercising their freedom on conscience. And our formal recognition of the freedom of conscience of others, including those who do not find abortion or gay marriage morally repugnant, OBLIGES us to accept such laws. In is a violation of our value of freedom of conscience to attempt to change the law to so the state will impose our moral values on others.