Two Catholic organizations are calling attention to the scandal created by "pro-choice" Catholics this week, and another is educating the public on what it means to "vote Catholic":
Catholics Against Kerry is launching a major radio advertising campaign in Pennsylvania this week. Michael V. Pearce, Public Relations coordinator for the group, said in a press release Sunday, "Pennsylvania is a key battleground state, and the fact that one-third of its population is Catholic makes it an essential audience for our message." Newsmax.com has the full details, as well as a transcript of the advertisement.
Today, American Life League's Crusade for the Defense of Our Catholic Church launches another round of newspaper ads identifying pro-abortion public figures who identify themselves as "Catholic." Rather than confine its criticism to Senator Kerry, the advertisement draws attention to the scandal of Republican California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and New York Gov. George Pataki, reminding us that "the defense of innocent human life is not a partisan issue." Townhall.com has the details.
Today as well, the apologetics organization Catholic Answers is taking out a full-page advertisement, the content of which is derived from their "Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics". The Voter's Guide identifies 5 issues involving "non-negotiable" moral principles which Catholics must consider when voting. The guide is nonpartisan and does not identify any politician by name, but simply maintains that Catholics cannot in good conscience vote for candidates who support, endorse, or condone the moral evils of abortion, euthanasia, embroyonic stem-cell research, human cloning and homosexual "marriage." Catholic World News has the details.
You can read the full text of the voter's guide here; you can order a free print copy for yourself here. Bulk copies are also available for distribution.
Unfortunately, according to EWTN:
A parishioner in the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis asked archdiocesan officials if he could distribute the "Voter's Guide" on church property. The archdiocese sought guidance from the USCCB, according to William Fallon, the archdiocese's chancellor, and was told they preferred that only the USCCB guide, "Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic Call to Political Responsibility", be distributed. "Faithful Citizenship," a document issued by the lay staff of the USCCB, has been criticized even within the Church for placing the paramount issue of abortion on a level playing field with other lesser issues like promoting "social justice" and "global solidarity." Bob Laird, director of the Family Life Office of the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, said, "It equates abortion with debt relief. They are not equal." Critics charge that the document has had the effect of minimizing the importance of abortion in Catholic social teaching. The USCCB is also set to release its staff-produced presidential questionnaire which has faced similar charges.
Ongoing commentary by the editors of CatholicKerryWatch
Sen. John Kerry stands with Kate Michelman (right) President of NARAL Pro-Choice America.
Since 1995, Michelman's group has given Kerry a 100% rating for his voting record to defend abortion.