Preachers, politics and campaign 2000

Church & State, Sep 2000 by Boston, Rob

Electioneering by non-profit religious groups can take many forms. In July a Roman Catholic organization called Priests for Life announced a $1 million-dollar ad campaign designed to turn up the heat on pro-choice politicians, especially those who are Catholic. The group says it will place "issue ads" in newspapers and on television before the November elections to pressure candidates to follow the antiabortion dogma of the Roman Catholic bishops.

Americans United warned that the effort may violate federal tax law. "This project raises serious legal questions," AU's Lynn told the media. "We will be watching closely and will not hesitate to report violations of the law to the IRS."

Priests for Life insists that the campaign will be non-partisan and will not target specific candidates. But Lynn said statements by the Rev. Frank Pavone, PFL's national director, indicate that the group may have a partisan agenda.

In June, for example, the National Catholic Register reported that Pavone met with GOP candidate Bush and proclaimed him "pro-life." At the same time, the priest criticized Gore, remarking, "Politics is the art of the possible. And the question is, will he [Bush] improve it or make it worse? There's no question about it. I don't think any sane person can miss the fact that Al Gore is an apostle for abortion. He won't just keep it the same, he'll make it worse." (The nationally distributed Catholic newspaper ran a photo with the article showing a beaming Pavone standing beside Bush.)

Lynn also noted that Pavone told the Associated Press that he has met with pro-choice Catholic politicians to demand they conform to church doctrine on abortion. The activist priest told the news agency his group is airing the ads after failing to persuade these politicians to change their minds; he also recently told U.S. News & World Report that Catholic candidates may specifically targeted if they "don't come around to the church's teaching."

At a Washington, D.C., press conference July 19, Pavone asserted that no true Christian can support legal abortion. "Anyone who identifies himself as `pro-choice' on abortion, first of all, contradicts the teachings of the Catholic Church," Pavone said. "There is not more than one Catholic position on abortion. Furthermore, this is not only a Catholic issue, but one of basic, fundamental human rights....Abortion not only contradicts the teachings of the Catholic Church, but it contradicts the Christian Gospel, as well as the Declaration of Independence."

Pavone, labeling Christian advocates of legal abortion "false prophets," went on to say, "To supporters of abortion who profess Christianity of any denomination, we say, `Stop being a scandal to the Gospel of Jesus Christ!"' Observed AU's Lynn, "This is a tainted project. Pavone and his group appear to be targeting specific candidates. If they do, they run the risk of severe penalties by the Internal Revenue Service."

Why are groups like Priests for Life, the Christian Coalition and others so interested in campaign 2000? Political observers say much is at stake this year. The race for the White House has captured the bulk of the attention, but it's also worth noting that every seat in the 435-member House of Representative: will be filled. In the House, Republicans hold a slim six-member majority, and polls show the Democrats have a shot at regaining control. The GOP holds a fourmember edge in the Senate, and control of that chamber is being contested as well.