Organizing and Paid Media Effort will Focus on Congressional Districts in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia
The social justice group Catholics United today announced that it is mounting an innovative, multifaceted campaign to defend the records of several Members of Congress who voted for final passage of health care reform. The Members are now facing a coordinated misinformation campaign from a host of self-proclaimed pro-life groups intended to perpetuate the misconception that the health care reform bill passed earlier this year allowed for federal funding of elective abortion. Catholics United's unprecedented effort, which they are raising $500,000 to support, will educate constituents of John Boccieri (OH-16), Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-03), Steve Driehaus (OH-01), and Tom Perriello (VA-05) about health care reform and a number of other issues. Activities will expand to other Congressional districts throughout the summer and fall.
Catholics United's “Set the Record Straight” campaign will activate thousands of Catholics and other people of faith who reject the abortion funding myth and support recent congressional efforts to expand health care access, create jobs, reduce dependence on foreign oil, protect consumers, and crack down on Wall Street abuses. Paid organizers and volunteers will work in each district to monitor the religious right's activities, educate faith leaders, and provide the media with local voices to speak on behalf of social justice issues. Catholics United will augment local organizing efforts with television, radio, and internet advertisements, phone calls, and direct mail.
“Catholics and other people of faith are frustrated by the dishonesty of many political operatives who oppose reform of our nation's outdated economic and social policies,” said Chris Korzen, executive director of Catholics United. “Instead of an open and honest dialogue about how best to meet the challenges of the 21st century, these groups are engaging in scare tactics and misusing the language of faith to score cheap political points and lead voters astray.”
The Catholics United effort comes in direct response to advertising campaigns currently underway by Republican-affiliated such as the Susan B. Anthony List, Family Research Council, National Right to Life Committee, and Republican National Campaign Committee. These groups’ ads ignore the findings of health care policy experts and independent news analyses which show that abortion funding is prohibited by both the legislation and a subsequent presidential executive order.
In one recent high-profile example, the National Right to Life Committee and Susan B. Anthony List claimed that the federal government was funding elective abortions through high-risk pools in Pennsylvania. The allegations were widely discredited by media fact-checks.
“We are sick and tired of partisan front groups using religion for political gain.” said Catholics United member Beverly Mirmelstein, a constituent of Virginia Congressman Tom Perriello and parishioner of the Church of the Incarnation in Charlottesville. "As a person of faith I support health care reform because it expands coverage for uninsured Americans while providing pregnant women and children with the support they need.”
Catholics United's “Set the Record Straight” campaign is an expansion of its earlier efforts to inform people of faith about the true nature of health care reform. In March it ran television ads in eight Congressional districts challenging the false claim that health care reform included abortion funding. After the vote, the organization ran thank-you ads in the districts of four Members of Congress who were under pressure from the religious right for voting yes.
President Obama Must Continue to Push for Congressional Action
Catholics United executive director Chris Korzen issued the following statement in response to President Obama's speech today calling for comprehensive immigration reform:
“For far too long, the American people have lived with a broken immigration system as leaders in Washington offer strong words and scant results. While we welcome President Obama's call for Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill, his words must be matched with action. Tough, practical, and fair immigration reform will only succeed with the president's unrelenting leadership.”
“Comprehensive immigration reform means securing our borders, cracking down on illegal employers, and requiring illegal immigrants to pay taxes, learn English, and become law-abiding citizens. Absent an approach that achieves these objectives, our nation will continue to face an ever-growing crisis.”
More Than 5,000 Members Call on Cardinal Sean O'Malley to Allow Children of Same-Sex Couples to Attend Catholic School
On Wednesday, May 26th, Boston-area members of the social justice group Catholics United delivered more than 5,000 petition signatures to the Archdiocese of Boston asking Cardinal Sean O'Malley not to allow discrimination in his Catholic schools on the basis of the lifestyles of students' parents. The move comes some two weeks after St. Paul Elementary School in Hingham, Massachusetts denied admission to an 8-year-old boy because his parents are in a same-sex relationship.
The archdiocese initially signaled strong opposition to such discrimination and promised to craft a policy to preempt future controversy. Recent statements from Cardinal O'Malley and other archdiocesan officials, however, appeared more supportive of the school's admissions decision.
Catholics United executive director Chris Korzen issued the following statement today in response to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' decision to leave the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (LCCR). The bishops withdrew their membership after the well-respected human rights coalition endorsed President Obama's nomination of Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court. The decision to leave LCCR comes in response to a pressure campaign by right wing Catholic groups and individuals, including former Bush Catholic advisor Deal Hudson.
“The U.S. Catholic Bishops' withdrawal from LCCR is part of a disturbing pattern of church leadership kowtowing to conservatives who are opposed to President Obama and the progressive agenda. Whether they know it or not, the bishops have become accomplices to the Republican Party and its allies. We witnessed this with health care reform, and now we see it with the Supreme Court nomination.”
More than 2,500 Catholics United Members Call for Acceptance of Student Denied Entrance over Parents' Same-sex Relationship
Catholics United today collected more than 2,500 petition signatures asking Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley to ensure that Catholic schools in his diocese allow all children to have access to a Catholic education. The move comes a day after news reports that an 8-year-old boy's acceptance to St. Paul Elementary School in Hingham, Massachusetts was rescinded by school officials, allegedly because the boy's parents are in a same-sex relationship.
“We humbly ask Cardinal O'Malley to intervene in this matter and allow this child to attend St. Paul Elementary School,” said Chris Korzen, executive director of Catholics United. “In making this request, we do not intend to challenge the church's teaching on marriage and relationships. Rather, we simply believe that no one should be denied the benefits of a Catholic education on the basis of their parents' background.”
A couple of months ago, a Catholic school in Boulder, Colorado prevented a student from re-enrolling - just because his parents were in a same-sex relationship. We hoped this was an isolated incident. Sadly, it's not. Now an 8-year-old boy's acceptance to St. Paul Elementary School in Hingham, Massachusetts has been rescinded for the same reason.
We still have an opportunity to put a stop to this. Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley has yet to take a position on the school's action. If he hears from enough of us, we think he could be convinced to do the right thing and reverse the decision.
Discrimination has no place in our nation's Catholic schools. Help us send a message that every child is worthy of a Catholic education, regardless of his or her family composition.
Catholics United calls on the FRC to honor truth and suspend misleading campaign
The social justice group Catholics United today expressed its grave disappointment over a misleading advertising campaign by the political wing of the Family Research Council. The campaign is explicitly aimed at defeating Democratic members of Congress who supported health care reform. Despite its claim to be a non-partisan organization which bases its action on Christian principles, two of the Council's "FRC Action PAC" targets are Democrats who voted AGAINST final passage of health care reform, but who also happen to be in tight races for re-election.
Yesterday's announcement that the Family Research Council will spend $500,000 on the upcoming elections also falsely claims that the legislation "uses taxpayer funds for abortion on demand." In response, Catholics United is calling on Family Research Council president Tony Perkins to swear on the Bible that he believes he is doing God's will by working to defeat these candidates with dishonest advertisements.
NRCC shamelessly uses abortion issue to mislead voters
The social justice group Catholics United is denouncing a new Web site sponsored by the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) aimed at defeating 15 House Democrats who voted for final passage of the health care reform bill. The Web site falsely claims that the new health care law funds abortion and suggests that Congressman Bart Stupak (MI-01), the leader of the Democratic pro-life caucus, sold out his principles by voting for health care reform.
Readers of the site are asked to sign a petition that reads, "Tell the Stupak Sellouts that the federal funding of abortion is wrong." This generalized statement is not supported with any corroborating evidence and suggests that the true intention of the NRCC is to use the life issue for political gain. Multiple news outlets and policy experts have verified that that the new health care reform law does not include federal funding of elective abortion.
Calls for End to Violence against Pro-Health Care Reform Representatives
Catholics United today launched a television ad campaign calling on people of faith to offer their gratitude to four Catholic members of Congress who voted for final passage of health care reform legislation: Reps. John Boccieri (OH-16), Chris Carney (PA-10), Brad Ellsworth (IN-08), and Tom Perriello (VA-05). The move comes as a new Gallup poll shows the public is warming to Congress' decision, despite a wave of threats and attacks against members of Congress who voted for the bill, including Congressman Perriello and his family.
Legislation an Unmitigated Victory for Catholic Values
Catholics United executive director Chris Korzen issued the following statement today in response to the U.S. House of Representatives' passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act:
"Today's vote marks the beginning of a new era in our nation's great history. Because of the House of Representatives' courageous action, America's hard-working families will no longer bear indignities at the hands of insurance companies. They will not lose their insurance because they lose their job. Pre-existing conditions will always be covered. Some 30 million Americans will have access to quality affordable health care. The bill which passed Congress tonight prohibits federal funding of abortion and protects life by expanding adoption credits and improving supports for pregnant women."
"These advances are an unmitigated victory for Catholic values, which hold that health care is a fundamental human right, not a privilege only to be enjoyed by the few. We thank all those who worked tirelessly to to make this dream a reality, especially Catholic members of Congress who voted for reform, and those in the Catholic community who stood by their convictions to help make history."
When we got the word Saturday that the Tea Party activists were hurling racial and homophobic slurs at members of Congress as they walked into the House chamber, Catholics United sprang into action. In just 12 hours, we were able to mobilize 150 people of faith to join in a prayerful peaceful counter presence outside the Capitol building.
When Speaker Pelosi linked arms with Congressman John Lewis to march into the Capitol, Catholics United was at their side cheering them on.
And the members of Congress were grateful. As they walked into the chamber to make their historic vote, many of them stopped to thank us for our positive and life affirming witness. The highpoint came when a number of Catholic members of Congress heard about our witness and asked for some of our signs. A few minutes later, these members of Congress were on the balcony of the House chamber with our signs, cheering us on.
For decades, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has worked to end poverty by empowering communities. Now, opponents of social change are trying to discredit the program and take away its funding. Click here to sign a petition in support of CCHD.
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On Wednesday, May 26th, Boston-area members of the social justice group Catholics United delivered more than 5,000 petition signatures to the Archdiocese of Boston asking Cardinal Sean O'Malley not to allow discrimination in his Catholic schools on the basis of the lifestyles of students' parents. The move comes some two weeks after St. Paul Elementary School in Hingham, Massachusetts denied admission to an 8-year-old boy because his parents are in a same-sex relationship.
