Successfully manufactures controversy in time for end-of-year fundraising efforts

Catholics United Communications Director, James Salt, issued the following statement in response to the Catholic League’s criticism of the David Wojnarowicz exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. On Wednesday, December 1st, the director of the portrait gallery removed the artwork at the center of the Catholic League’s attacks.

“Just in time for his end-of-the-year fundraising efforts, Bill Donohue and the Catholic League have once again manufactured a controversy for their never-ending culture war. During this season of Advent, most Catholics and people of faith are concerned about the sluggish economy and how it affects our families, not Bill Donohue’s crusade against art. If Bill Donohue were truly interested in following Jesus, he’d drop this culture-war shtick and do something more productive for those less fortunate than himself.”

SBA List Could be Penalized for Ad Campaign Intentionally Misleading Voters About Health Reform Law

Cincinnati, OH – A federal judge ruled today that the Susan B. Anthony List will have to answer to the Ohio Elections Commission for its advertisements making blatantly false claims on abortion. The Susan B. Anthony List had attempted to run misleading billboard ads in a number of highly contested congressional districts.

“This is good news for all Americans because everyone, regardless of political party, should be able to make decisions about voting based on the reality of a candidate’s record, not on which party or candidate can afford to spread more lies,” said Chris Korzen, executive director of Catholics United.

Group Sues in Federal Court to Block Ohio Commission’s Investigation of False Ad Campaign

Washington, DC – The self-described pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List today asked a federal judge to overturn an Ohio law requiring truth in political advertising. Last week, the Ohio Elections Commission found probable cause that the organization violated the law in asserting that Rep. Steve Driehaus (OH-01) voted for taxpayer funding of abortion. Now, SBA List is seeking to block legal efforts to discover whether it and other organizations knew they were making false statements in order to influence the November elections.

Catholics United executive director Chris Korzen issued the following statement today in response to Susan B. Anthony List’s new legal challenge:

“The Susan B. Anthony List has argued all along that the health care reform act allows federal funding of abortion. If this is true, the group should welcome the opportunity to defend its claims. SBA List's attempt to use the federal courts to strike down an Ohio state law requiring truth in political advertising speaks volumes about its lack of confidence that the facts are on its side.”

Susan B. Anthony List Billboards Distort Steve Driehaus' Voting Record

Cincinnati, OH – Faith and community leaders joined local members of Catholics United today in speaking out against a planned billboard advertising campaign by the group Susan B. Anthony List. In an open letter, the leaders asked the group to stop making the false claim that Congressman Steve Driehaus (OH-01) voted to expand federal funding of abortion. Numerous independent fact-checks have refuted this inaccurate argument. In fact, Rep. Driehaus led a fight earlier this year to ensure that the health care reform bill did not include elective abortion funding.

The release of the letter – signed by 36 leaders, including 11 Catholic nuns – comes as the Ohio Election Commission prepares to hear a legal challenge the Driehaus campaign filed against the ad campaign. Catholics United submitted an affidavit to the commission in support of the challenge. News reports indicate that the billboards will not go up until the case is resolved.