Washington D.C., Oct 12, 2011 / 11:51 am
The U.S. bishops’ new introductory note to their statement on Catholics’ voting responsibilities helps clarify distortions and affirms the importance of pro-life, marriage and religious freedom issues, two leaders with the group Catholic Advocate said.
“For too many decades, pro-abortion Catholic politicians and their supporters have been allowed to treat all the issues of our social teaching as if they had the same value,” Catholic Advocate president Deal W. Hudson and vice president Matt Smith said on Oct. 11.
The note was a “welcome” clarification for those who have worked in the political process on behalf of the unborn, marriage and families. Its language was not meant to be overlooked by those who want to promote “Obama and other pro-abortion politicians” to Catholic voters, they suggested.
They said the introductory note pays “particular attention” to religious liberty at a time of conflicts over the Department of Health and Human Services’ mandate for contraceptive coverage in insurance plans.