Christian Coalition takes aim at Boston

National Catholic Reporter, Dec 22, 1995 by James G. McManus

Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., the Republican chairman of the Judiciary Committee and a longtime abortion opponent, told the audience that evangelical Protestants and Catholics share "the idea that American democracy is a great moral adventure." He said the alliance was a "wonderful development - it's ecumenical in the fullest sense, bringing Christians together."

At the downtown hotel where the alliance held its conference, the Interfaith Alliance, a Washington-based ecumenical group formed to oppose rightwing religious political organizations, held a news conference to warn Catholics about signing on to the Christian Coalition's agenda.

Fr. Paul McLaughlin, pastor of a suburban Boston church, told reporters: "Catholics don't need Pat Robertson to tell them how to vote." He called the alliance "a fraudulent group designed to fool Catholic voters and increase the political power of Pat Robertson." He added, "And in most areas, the teaching of the (Catholic) church is in direct conflict with the agenda of Pat Robertson and his Catholic Alliance."

McLaughlin said he would not allow the alliance or other independent Catholic groups to use parish property for political purposes. Pope John Paul II, the bishops and other leaders of the church have clearly stated the church's teaching in regard to social questions and issues of morality," he said.

Sr. Patricia Lambert, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Boston, also questioned the alliance's agenda, which sometimes directly contradicts positions promoted by the U.S. Catholic Conference, the bishops' official education and public policy arm.

Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany, N.Y., last month raised concerns about Robertson's plans for a Catholic offshoot at an executive session of the bishops' annual meeting in Washington. Hubbard said he believed the alliance "will create massive confusion not only among lawmakers in local, state and federal government but among the Catholic faithful as to who it is that speaks legitimately on matters of public policy within the church in the United States."

Keynote speaker Ralph Reed said the linking of Catholics and Protestants is "destined to be one of the most effective political organizations in the country by the end of this decade. ... There is far more that unites us than divides us." He called Catholics "the swing vote in American politics" that could raise awareness of issues such as pornography, school choice and abortion.

The crowd applauded Reed's reference to last month's government shutdown. "The political stalemate over the budget is a debate about values," Reed said. "The deficit in Washington is a symptom of a spiritual and moral problem in America."

Bishop blasts Coalition-Alliance campaign

Following are excerpts from printed remarks delivered by Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany, N.Y., to an executive session of the nation's Catholic bishops during their November general meeting in Washington.

Like many of you, I suspect, I recently received literature from the newly formed organization, the Catholic Alliance of the Christian Coalition. The literature, which was mailed immediately after our Holy Father departed from his recent visit to the United States, contained a lengthy fundraising letter and a congressional scorecard.