If you are a Catholic policy maker who supports sexual and reproductive health and rights, is prochoice, and supports policies and funding for programs that reduce the need for abortion and make real choices available to women facing an unintended pregnancy, then you are in good company. Throughout history, Catholic policy makers have stood strong, clearly articulating prochoice positions based on progressive Catholicism and sound public policy. Here are a few examples of such statements and reflections:
“I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute--where no Catholic prelate would tell the President (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote--where no church or church school is granted any public funds or political preference--and where no man is denied public office merely because his religion differs from the President who might appoint him or the people who might elect him.”
“I believe in an America that is officially neither Catholic, Protestant nor Jewish--where no public official either requests or accepts instructions on public policy from the Pope, the National Council of Churches or any other ecclesiastical source--where no religious body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly upon the general populace or the public acts of its officials--and where religious liberty is so indivisible that an act against one church is treated as an act against all.”
—President
John F. Kennedy[1]
“The
role of the church in politics is not to get
involved… The responsibility we face as a church
is to raise issues of what we believe in… [I]t is
totally inappropriate and out of line for me to
suggest what candidates people would vote for.”
—Bishop
of Pittsburgh David Zubik
[2]
"I'm
a very strong believer in the separation of
church and state, as President Kennedy spoke to,
and I continue to follow my own beliefs and will
continue to serve the people of Massachusetts."
—Senator
Edward Kennedy (D-MA)[3]
"I
believe
that my position on choice is one that is
consistent with my Catholic upbringing, which
said that every person has a free will and has
the responsibility to live their lives in a way
that they would have to account for in the end."
—Speaker
of the House of Representatives Nancy
Pelosi (D-CA)[4]
"Statements
by some in the church about denying the
sacraments to some public officials and those who
vote for them cross the line in terms of what
most Catholic Americans find acceptable regarding
the relationship between their church and their
government…We must carefully protect both the
constitutional right to religious belief and the
separation between church and state. These
time-honored American principles should not be
compromised for any short-term political
purpose."
—Senator
Richard Durbin (D-IL)[5]
"I'm
disappointed that there appears to be a singling
out by some of the Catholic hierarchy of one
issue that's very divisive…There are a lot of
issues - there's birth control, there's the death
penalty, there's euthanasia, there's social
justice…Picking one topic and not talking about
the other topics, I think there is an issue of
fairness in terms of the Catholic doctrine and
how public officials are being called to task."
—Senator
Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
[6]
“Bishop
Burke has a right to instruct me on matters of
faith and morals in my private life and— like any
other citizen—to try by persuasion, not
dictation, to affect my vote on any public
matter… But when he attempts to use his
ecclesiastical position to dictate to American
public officials how the power of law should be
brought to bear against Americans who do not
necessarily share our religious beliefs, on
abortion or any other public issue, he crosses
the line into unacceptable territory… The U.S.
Constitution, which I have taken a sacred oath to
defend, is designed to protect Americans citizens
from just such authoritarian demands.”
—Representative
David Obey (D-WI)[7]
"As
a public official, you have to appreciate the
difference between your membership in a church
and your responsibility to the public. In this
society, everybody's viewpoint must be
protected."
—Former
New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani
(R)[8]
"When
I was sworn into office, I took an oath to uphold
the Constitution. My constituents have the right
to expect that I will represent people of all
faiths. Bishop Burke certainly has a right to
voice his opinion, and I will give him the same
respectful hearing I would give any other
citizen…I hold Bishop Burke in high regard;
however, I believe any effort to pressure
legislators by threatening to deny them the
sacraments is contrary to the principles of
democracy."
—Wisconsin
State Senator Julie Lassa
(D-24)[9]
“In
addition to all the weaknesses, dilemmas, and
temptations that impede every pilgrim's progress,
the Catholic who holds political office in a
pluralistic democracy – who is elected to serve
Jews and Muslims, atheists and Protestants, as
well as Catholics – bears special responsibility.
He or she undertakes to help create conditions
under which all can live with a maximum of
dignity and with a reasonable degree of freedom;
where everyone who chooses may hold beliefs
different from specifically Catholic ones –
sometimes contradictory to them; where the laws
protect people's right to divorce, to use birth
control, and even to choose abortion.”
—Former
New York Governor Mario Cuomo
(D)[10]
“I
admit
that virtually all of my political judgments have
been consistent with Catholic positions, but they
are also the positions of almost all religions:
human equality and respect, compassion and
assistance for those plagued by hunger,
homelessness and poverty; respect for the earth,
its spirituality and our permanent reliance on
it; wariness of unregulated corporate power;
respect for individual economic opportunity and
workers, and commitment to children, their
innocence and their future.”
—Former
Minnesota State Senator John
Hottinger (DFL) Senate District
23[11]
"I
have no
plans to leave my faith or change churches…I
think that's the easy way out."
—Massachusetts
State Representative Barbara
L’Italien (D-18th
Essex)[12]
[1]
John F.
Kennedy, Address to the Greater Houston
Ministerial Association, September 12, 1960.
[2]
Jesse F.
Derris, “Life Support? Stem-Cell Backing Holds at
Six in 10,” ABC News, August 1, 2001.
[3]
Associated Press, “Cardinal: Politicians who back
abortion unfit for Communion,” April 24, 2004.
[4]
Nancy
Pelosi, “House Democrat leader says she'll take
Communion in spite of Vatican policies,”
Associated Press, April 29, 2004.
[5]
Joe
Feuerherd, Does GOP get a free ride? Capitol Hill
Catholic Democrats say abortion emphasis is
getting partisan and personal,”
National Catholic
Reporter, July 2, 2004.
[6]
The Associated Press State & Local Wire,
February 18, 2004.
[7]
David R.
Obey, “My Conscience, My Vote,”
America,
August
16, 2004.
[8]
Ken
Fireman, “Bishop Raps Catholic Lawmaker; Bars
pro-choice advocate from receiving
communion,” Newsday,
November 17, 1989.
[9]
Tom
Heinen, “Bishop's letter brings criticism and
praise; Lawmakers insist on independence from
church,” Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel, January 10, 2004.
[10]
Mario
Cuomo, “Religious Belief and Public Morality: A
Catholic Governor’s Perspective,” September 13,
1984.
[11]
John
Hottinger, “A pro-choice Catholic politician
speaks out,” National Catholic
Reporter, October 22, 2004.
[12]
Meredith
Goldstein, “Faith, Politics Collide Again,
L’Italien Controversy reminiscent of Past
Conflict,” Boston
Globe, December 19, 2004.