House Democrats Release Historic Catholic Statement of Principles
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kate Cyrul
Tuesday, February 28, 2006 (202) 225-3661
Catholic Statement of Principles
Expresses Commitment to Dignity of Life and Belief that Government Has `Moral Purpose'
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A majority of Catholic Democrats in the U.S. House led by Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) today released a statement of principles. Signed by 55 House Democrats, the statement documents how their faith influences them as lawmakers,
making clear their commitment to the basic principles at the heart of Catholic social teaching and their bearing on policy – whether it is increasing access to education for all or pressing for real health care reform, taking seriously the decision to go to war, or
reducing poverty. Above all, the document expresses the signers' commitment to the dignity of life and their belief that government has moral purpose.
The full text of the statement and the complete list of signers follow.
Statement of Principles
By Fifty-Five Catholic Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives
As Catholic Democrats in Congress, we are proud to be part of the living Catholic tradition -- a tradition that promotes the common good, expresses a consistent moral framework for life and highlights the need to provide a collective safety net to those individuals in
society who are most in need. As legislators, in the U.S. House of Representatives, we work every day to advance respect for life and the dignity of every human being. We believe that government has moral purpose.
We are committed to making real the basic principles that are at the heart of Catholic social teaching: helping the poor and disadvantaged, protecting the most vulnerable among us, and ensuring that all Americans of every faith are given meaningful opportunities to share in the blessings of this great country. That commitment is fulfilled in different ways by legislators but includes: reducing the rising rates of poverty; increasing access to education for all; pressing for increased access to health care; and taking seriously the decision to go to war. Each of these issues challenges our obligations as Catholics to community and helping those in need.
We envision a world in which every child belongs to a loving family and agree with the Catholic Church about the value of human life and the undesirability of abortion B we do not celebrate its practice.
Each of us is committed to reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies and creating an environment with policies that encourage pregnancies to be carried to term. We believe this includes promoting alternatives to abortion, such as adoption, and improving access to children's healthcare and child care, as well as policies that encourage paternal and maternal responsibility.
In all these issues, we seek the Church=s guidance and assistance but believe also in the primacy of conscience. In recognizing the Church's role in providing moral leadership, we acknowledge and
accept the tension that comes with being in disagreement with the Church in some areas. Yet we believe we can speak to the fundamental issues that unite us as Catholics and lend our voices to changing
the political debate -- a debate that often fails to reflect and encompass the depth and complexity of these issues.
As legislators, we are charged with preserving the Constitution, which guarantees religious freedom for all Americans. In doing so, we guarantee our right to live our own lives as Catholics, but also foster an America with a rich diversity of faiths. We believe the
separation of church and state allows for our faith to inform our public duties.
As Catholic Democrats who embrace the vocation and mission of the laity as expressed by Pope John Paul II in his Apostolic Exhortation, Christifideles Laici, we believe that the Church is the "people of God," called to be a moral force in the broadest sense. We believe the Church as a community is called to be in the
vanguard of creating a more just America and world. And as such, we have a claim on the Church's bearing as it does on ours.
Rosa L. DeLauro David R. Obey
Wm. Lacy Clay Hilda L. Solis
James R. Langevin Bart Stupak
Anna Eshoo Bill Pascrell
Betty McCollum Gene Taylor
Raul M. Grijalva Carolyn McCarthy
John B. Larson Ed Pastor
Joe Baca William Delahunt
Tim Ryan Silvestre Reyes
Mike Thompson Linda T. Sanchez
Charles A. Gonzalez Xavier Becerra
Diane Watson Michael H. Michaud
Nydia Velazquez Jim Marshall
Frank Pallone John T. Salazar
James P. McGovern George Miller
Tim Holden James L. Oberstar
Dale E. Kildee Patrick J. Kennedy
Cynthia McKinney James P. Moran
Michael Capuano Richard E. Neal
Mike Doyle Peter A. DeFazio
Maurice Hinchey Dennis A. Cardoza
Joseph Crowley Jim Costa
Lucille Roybal-Allard Loretta Sanchez
Robert Brady Marty Meehan
Grace Napolitano Luis V.Gutierrez
Jose Serrano Stephen Lynch
Edward J. Markey Nancy Pelosi
Lane Evans
-30-
www.house.gov/delauro
Tuesday, February 28, 2006 (202) 225-3661
Catholic Statement of Principles
Expresses Commitment to Dignity of Life and Belief that Government Has `Moral Purpose'
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A majority of Catholic Democrats in the U.S. House led by Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) today released a statement of principles. Signed by 55 House Democrats, the statement documents how their faith influences them as lawmakers,
making clear their commitment to the basic principles at the heart of Catholic social teaching and their bearing on policy – whether it is increasing access to education for all or pressing for real health care reform, taking seriously the decision to go to war, or
reducing poverty. Above all, the document expresses the signers' commitment to the dignity of life and their belief that government has moral purpose.
The full text of the statement and the complete list of signers follow.
Statement of Principles
By Fifty-Five Catholic Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives
As Catholic Democrats in Congress, we are proud to be part of the living Catholic tradition -- a tradition that promotes the common good, expresses a consistent moral framework for life and highlights the need to provide a collective safety net to those individuals in
society who are most in need. As legislators, in the U.S. House of Representatives, we work every day to advance respect for life and the dignity of every human being. We believe that government has moral purpose.
We are committed to making real the basic principles that are at the heart of Catholic social teaching: helping the poor and disadvantaged, protecting the most vulnerable among us, and ensuring that all Americans of every faith are given meaningful opportunities to share in the blessings of this great country. That commitment is fulfilled in different ways by legislators but includes: reducing the rising rates of poverty; increasing access to education for all; pressing for increased access to health care; and taking seriously the decision to go to war. Each of these issues challenges our obligations as Catholics to community and helping those in need.
We envision a world in which every child belongs to a loving family and agree with the Catholic Church about the value of human life and the undesirability of abortion B we do not celebrate its practice.
Each of us is committed to reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies and creating an environment with policies that encourage pregnancies to be carried to term. We believe this includes promoting alternatives to abortion, such as adoption, and improving access to children's healthcare and child care, as well as policies that encourage paternal and maternal responsibility.
In all these issues, we seek the Church=s guidance and assistance but believe also in the primacy of conscience. In recognizing the Church's role in providing moral leadership, we acknowledge and
accept the tension that comes with being in disagreement with the Church in some areas. Yet we believe we can speak to the fundamental issues that unite us as Catholics and lend our voices to changing
the political debate -- a debate that often fails to reflect and encompass the depth and complexity of these issues.
As legislators, we are charged with preserving the Constitution, which guarantees religious freedom for all Americans. In doing so, we guarantee our right to live our own lives as Catholics, but also foster an America with a rich diversity of faiths. We believe the
separation of church and state allows for our faith to inform our public duties.
As Catholic Democrats who embrace the vocation and mission of the laity as expressed by Pope John Paul II in his Apostolic Exhortation, Christifideles Laici, we believe that the Church is the "people of God," called to be a moral force in the broadest sense. We believe the Church as a community is called to be in the
vanguard of creating a more just America and world. And as such, we have a claim on the Church's bearing as it does on ours.
Rosa L. DeLauro David R. Obey
Wm. Lacy Clay Hilda L. Solis
James R. Langevin Bart Stupak
Anna Eshoo Bill Pascrell
Betty McCollum Gene Taylor
Raul M. Grijalva Carolyn McCarthy
John B. Larson Ed Pastor
Joe Baca William Delahunt
Tim Ryan Silvestre Reyes
Mike Thompson Linda T. Sanchez
Charles A. Gonzalez Xavier Becerra
Diane Watson Michael H. Michaud
Nydia Velazquez Jim Marshall
Frank Pallone John T. Salazar
James P. McGovern George Miller
Tim Holden James L. Oberstar
Dale E. Kildee Patrick J. Kennedy
Cynthia McKinney James P. Moran
Michael Capuano Richard E. Neal
Mike Doyle Peter A. DeFazio
Maurice Hinchey Dennis A. Cardoza
Joseph Crowley Jim Costa
Lucille Roybal-Allard Loretta Sanchez
Robert Brady Marty Meehan
Grace Napolitano Luis V.Gutierrez
Jose Serrano Stephen Lynch
Edward J. Markey Nancy Pelosi
Lane Evans
-30-
www.house.gov/delauro
posted by R7 | 3/01/2006 04:56:00 PM
1 Comments:
55 'Catholic' Democrats Out Themselves as Pro-Abortion - Slammed by Catholic Leaders
In a so-called 'Statement of Principles', 55 House Democrats have exposed themselves as being pro-abortion. The self-proclaimed 'historic' statement issued Monday, contains the basic message that the proponents support all the politically correct teachings of the Catholic Church such as reducing poverty and increasing access to education and health care but stop short on the Church's teaching on abortion. The letter also conveniently skips over the issue of homosexuality which has serious bearing in public life today.
On abortion, the Democrats make a lame attempt to feign agreement with the Church saying that they, "agree with the Catholic Church about the value of human life and the undesirability of abortion, we do not celebrate its practice." They propose as a solution, not granting unborn children the legal right to life, but rather efforts toward "reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies and creating an environment with policies that encourage pregnancies to be carried to term. We believe this includes promoting alternatives to abortion . . ."
The gobbledygook is not being bought by Catholic leadership, both lay and clerical.
Catholic League president William Donohue commented, "The House Catholic Democrats who signed this statement - and 17 of them did not - are trying to convince the public, and especially Catholics, that one can be a good Catholic and differ with the Catholic Church on abortion."
"Perhaps the most convincing evidence that this statement is a sham," said Donahue, " is the fact that Rep. Rosa DeLauro is the point person for this effort. There has never been an abortion she couldn't justify, including the killing of an innocent child who is 80-percent born. Indeed, she previously served as the executive director of EMILY's List, the richest pro-abortion organization in the country. So with her at the helm, the 'Statement of Principle' is nothing more than a 'Statement of Politics.'"
Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, commented that the legislators had "made a big mistake" and introduced "a bundle of contradictions" into the public debate on faith and public service.
"This statement tries to soften the contradiction between creating a just society and tolerating legal abortion," said Fr. Pavone. "The voting records of these legislators are available to anyone who wants to look them up. To fail to protect the unborn, and then to say that you are 'committed to…protecting the most vulnerable among us' is a blatant contradiction."
Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer, President of Human Life International (HLI), responded to the 'Statement of Principles' saying, "On the Eve of Ash Wednesday the day that marks the beginning of the Lenten Season, 'Catholic' House Democrats choose to play the role of Judas in a passion play that ends with the crucifixion of the unborn child."
"The House Democrat so-called 'Statement of Principles' is nothing more than Washington-speak for: 'We support abortion on demand and we do not care what the Church teaches.'
The 55 signatories and the full letter are available online here:
http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2006/February/catholic_statement_2_28_06.html
The 55 are also listed below:
Joe Baca
Xavier Becerra
Robert Brady
Michael Capuano
Dennis A. Cardoza
Wm. Lacy Clay
Jim Costa
Joseph Crowley
Peter A. DeFazio
William Delahunt
Rosa DeLauro
Mike Doyle
Anna Eshoo
Lane Evans
Charles A. Gonzalez
Raul M. Grijalva
Luis V. Gutierrez
Maurice Hinchey
Tim Holden
Patrick J. Kennedy
Dale E. Kildee
James R. Langevin
John B. Larson
Stephen Lynch
Edward J. Markey
Jim Marshall
Carolyn McCarthy
Betty McCollum
James P. McGovern
Cynthia McKinney
Marty Meehan
Michael H. Michaud
George Miller
James P. Moran
Grace Napolitano
Richard E. Neal
James L. Oberstar
David R. Obey
Frank Pallone
Bill Pascrell
Ed Pastor
Nancy Pelosi
Silvestre Reyes
Lucille Roybal-Allard
Tim Ryan
John T. Salazar
Linda T. Sanchez
Loretta Sanchez
Jose Serrano
Hilda L. Solis
Bart Stupak
Gene Taylor
Mike Thompson
Nydia Velazquez
Diane Watson
By John-Henry Westen
WASHINGTON, March 1, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com)
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