Setting up shop at the GOP

Human Quest, Nov/Dec 2001 by Miller, Patti

Bush strategist Karl Rove is reportedly leading the faction within the White House opposing federal funding for stem cell research out of fear of losing the "Catholic vote."47 "I've talked a little with Karl Rove. He is concerned about the views of the Catholic church on these issues because Catholic voters are seen as such a swing vote in the elections," said Richard Doerflinger of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.48

But Catholics overwhelmingly support stem cell research. According to a recent poll by The Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, 71% of American Catholics support federal funding for stem cell research.49 It is the Catholic bishops that the administration risks alienating with a progressive policy on stem cell research, not Catholic voters. On this issue, as with so many others, it may be impossible for the Bush administration to safely traverse the deep divide between the official positions of the Catholic hierarchy and the Catholics who actually count in the voting booth.

End notes

1 Deal Hudson, "Together Again,"Crisis, November 1995.

2 "Cardinal Slams Catholic Alliance,"National Catholic Register, March 17, 1996.

3 "Remarks on the Christian Coalition's Catholic Alliance," Origins, Dec. 7,1995.

4 Esther Diskin, "Bishop Rejects Christian Coalition,"Norfolk VirginiaPilot, Sept. 12,1995.

5 Gustav Niebuhr, "Ray Flynn to Head Catholic Groups with Conservative Roots," The New York 71mes, March 13,1999.

6 Grover Norquist, "The Catholic Vote,"The American Spectator, October 2000.

7 Fr. Pavone, Head of Priests for Life, Meets with Governor George Bush,"National Right to Life News, May 2000.

8 Membership information from Priests for life, July 2000, www.priestsforlife.org.

9 "Republicans Reaching Out to Catholics,"Catholic World News, June 30, 2000.

10 Peter Stone, "Wooing Catholics from Heavenly Heights," National Journal, August 1, 2000.

11 Joseph Conn, "The Bishops Biased Blessing,"Church & State, December 2000.

12 Ryan Lizza, "Salvation," the New Republic, April 13, 2001.

13 Larry Witham, "Bush to Court Catholic Voters,"The Washington Times, Oct. 1, 2000.

14 Franklin Foer, "Spin Doctrine," .The New Republic, June 5, 2000. 15 Ryan T izza "Salvation,

"The New Republic, April 13, 2001. 16 Paul Likoudis, "Only Days Into His Term, New President Links with Catholics,"The Wanderer, Feb. 8, 2001.

17 Brian McGuire, "Bush Meets with Catholics on Faith-Based Initiatives,"National Catholic Register, Feb. 11-17,2001.

18 "Bush 'Mes' Faith-Based Plan to Antiabortion Effort," Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, Kaiser Daily 2001.

19 Larry Witham, "Bush to Court Catholic Voters,"The Washington Tunes, Oct. 1, 2000.

20 Peter Stone, "Bush's Catholic Outreach,"National Journal, Oct. 28, 2000.

21 Joseph Conn, "The Bishops Biased Blessing,"Church & State,

December 2000.

22 Peter Stone, "Bush's Catholic Outreach,"National Journal, Oct. 28, 2000

23 Ryan Lizza, "Salvation,"

The New Republic, April 13, 2001. 24 Bill Straub, "GOP Courts Catholics,"Scripps Howard News Service, May 15, 2001.