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t eanc 0 VOL. 36, NO. 38
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Friday, September 25, 1992
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Economy is key to campaign NEW YORK (CNS) - The economy is the key issue of the presidential campaign and the victor ofthe race will probably be the candidate American voters think will bring about the most change, said Auxiliary Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan of Brooklyn. Speaking Monday at a conference for administrators of Catholic hospitals, he said issues included under the "family values" theme, such as abortion, are also important for Catholics. But he suggested that addressing such issues as poverty and health care would lead to progress on pro-life concerns. Abortion is connected to the economy, he said, because many of those choosing abortion are suffering from economic deprivation. Bishop Sullivan, board chairman of the Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn and Queens, spoke as part of a weeklong program held at St. John's University in the New York borough of Queens under joint sponsorship of the center and the university. He noted that Peter Steinfels, a Catholic who is senior religion correspondent for The New York Times, wrote in the fall issue ofthe quarterly Church about the dilemma posed for him by the current stance of the Democratic Party on abortion.
Describing himselfas a "lifelong van suggested reliance on the Democrat," Steinfels pointed out Gospel passage, Matthew 25, in developments that make him un- which Jesus says the final judgeasy this year: Gov. Bill Clinton's ment will be based on whether one promise to sign a Freedom of fed the hungry, gave drink to the Choice law "that goes beyond Roe thirsty, welcomed the stranger, vs. Wade"; Clinton's promise to clothed the naked, aided the sick appoint only supporters of Roe to and visited the imprisoned. the Supreme Court; and the refAsked to assess the lobbying usal to allow a pro-life Democratic influence of the bishops and the governor, Robert P. Casey of Penn- Catholic Health Association in sylvania, to speak at this year's Washington, Bishop Sullivan said convention. "we get an ear" and enjoy credibil"My mind is not firmly made ity in terms of "substance" and up," Steinfels wrote. "But at the "consistency." moment, and for the first time in But he said politicians consider my life, I am coqtemplating not not merely the moral weight of the voting in a presidential election." arguments but the degree of supBishop Sullivan said many port in the constituency. And the Catholics who were lifelong Demo- social agenda of the bishops is crats now share the same outlook "ahead of the Catholic people sigas Steinfels. Many, the bishop nificantly," he said. added, were further alienated by "In general, I don't think the Clinton's opposition to aid for Catholic voice in this country is non-public schools. But they are left "in a quan- very powerful," Bishop Sullivan dary," because there is a feeling said. Politicians measuring the that President Bush is less credible influence of church leaders with their constituency, he said, generon economic issues, he said. Bishop Sullivan said he was not ally do not believe the bishops have much impact on the way trying to influence voting decisions. But he said that "we need great . votes are cast. change." And he predicted the He said lobbying efforts of the election winner would be the can- Catholic Health Association are didate that voters believed would probably more effective because bring about change. the organization has precisely tarAs a standard for choosing geted goals, whereas the bishops among candidates, Bishop Sulliworked on a broad range of issues.
usee airs objections to Religious Freedom Restoration Act WASHINGTON (CNS) - A bill to legislatively restore religious freedoms curtailed by a 1990 Supreme Court ruling was put on the fast track in the waning days of the 102nd Congress, but was considered unlikely to come up for a vote before adjournment. Attorneys from the U.S. Catholic Conference and the National Right to Life Committee testified against the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in a Sept. 18 Senate hearing. USCC General Counsel Mark Chopko told the Judiciary Committee he believes the bill would be used to get around regulations by justifying abortion as'a religiously compelled act. It also would enEVENTS LAST WEEKEND took Bishop Sean O'Mal- courage claims against programs ley to Immaculate Conception Church, New Bedford, where in which churches and governhe celebrated Mass and blessed a new function hall (top) for ments collaborate and endanger the Society of Senhor da Pedra (Studio D photo) and to Our churches' tax-exempt status, he said. Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, New Bedford, where he and James Bopp J r., general counsel Boston Cardinal Bernard Law were celebrants of an annual ofthe National Right to Life ComMass for the Association for the Development of the Catholic mittee, offered examples of recent University of Portugal. Concelebrants were pastor Msgr. Luiz attempts to justify claims of a right G. Mendonca, Msgr. Heiuy T. Munroe, Father Manuel P. to abortion as a religious right. "There are numerous religious Ferreira and area priests. A dinner followed in the school hall. bodies in the United States, large As ADCUP president, Cardinal Law succeeds the late Cardi- and small, which assert that their nal Humberto Medeiros, who founded the organization in· doctrinal systems motivate, or even 1976. (Hickey photo) dictate, that their adherents seek
abortion in very expansive circumstances, and that the free exercise of religion must encompass the legal right of these women to procure abortions without state 'interference,''' Bopp said in prepared testimony. Bopp cited statements from the United Synagogue of America, a United Methodist division, the American Friends Service Committee, the Episcopal Women's. Caucus and the Presbyterian Church (USA) defining abortion as a right of individual conscience: "There is now no question that from the beginning of the drafting process, S.2969 was intended to include religiously-based abortion claims," said Chopko in a statement to the committee. "Supporters of the legislation, including those directly involved in the drafting process, acknowledged this...." All but one of the other wit~ nesses at the Sept. 18 hearing disagreed with Chopko and Bopp, with several saying they would vehemently oppose the bill if they thought it could be used to justify abortions or to endanger church programs and tax status. The 10 witnesses at the hearing included representatives of other
church bodies, attorneys, a proponent of home schooling and Nadine Strossen, who is a law professor and president of the American Civil Liberties Union. The bill is intended to restore religious rights affected by the 1990 ruling in Employment Division, Oregon Department of Human Resources vs. Smith. In that case, the court found the sacramental use of the hallucinogenic peyote by Native Americans could not be protected as a religious right. Since then, a variety of religious rights claims have been lost as courts applied the less stringent standard set out in the Oregon case. Although all 10 witnesses Sept. 18 agreed that some legislative remedy is needed to repair damage from the ruling, Chopko and Bopp argued that the bill in its current form leaves too much room for interpretation that might hurt religious interests. When Congress went into its summer recess it seemed unlikely the Religious Freedom Restoration Act would be up for a vote before adjournment in October, according to Frank Monahan, diTurn to Page 11
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