Washington D.C., Jun 21, 2012 / 03:05 am
A leaked e-mail shows that the Democratic-leaning organization Faith in Public Life is running a behind-the-scenes media effort to undercut the U.S. bishops and the "Fortnight for Freedom" events intended to rally opposition to the HHS mandate.
Bill Donohue, President of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, released the e-mail detailing the campaign on June 18. He said a copy of the e-mail had been leaked to him.
Donohue said "fair minded persons" may disagree with the religious freedom effort "but there is something unseemly going on when those who work for a George Soros-funded group are quietly providing talking points to the media."
The June 7 e-mail from John Gehring, Faith in Public Life's Catholic Program Director, is addressed to reporters, editors and columnists. It describes itself as a "backgrounder" and contains talking points, adversarial questions for Catholic bishops and recommendations of experts to interview.