Donahue vs. Obama

Bill Donahue of the Catholic League is not impressed with Barack Obama’s Catholic National Advisory Council. On May 2nd he said:

“The best advice I can give Sen. Obama about his Catholic National Advisory Council is to dissolve it immediately. Of the 26 Catholic former or current public office holders he has listed as either National Co-Chairs (5), or as members of the National Leadership Committee (21), there is not one who agrees with the Catholic Church on all three major public policy issues: abortion, embryonic stem cell research and school vouchers.

“Indeed, on the issue of abortion, their record is disgraceful. Consider the scorecard as issued by the most radical pro-abortion organization in the nation—NARAL. Of the two National Co-Chairs who have a NARAL tally, one agrees with the extremist group 65 percent of the time and the other agrees 100 percent of the time. Of the 20 National Leadership Committee members with a NARAL score, 17 have earned a 100 percent rating. Of those who have less than a perfect score, not one is in favor of school vouchers. ...

As CNA reports, the committee members were offended—nay, outraged!—that their failure to support clear Catholic teaching was being used as evidence that they don't support clear Catholic teaching:

The 26 member advisory council, which includes two sisters and one priest, responded to Donahue’s accusation that they are “dissenters” from the Catholic Church by writing him a letter.

In their letter, the council members counter Donahue’s charge that they don’t follow Church teaching on abortion by saying, “Unlike the Catholic League, the U.S. Catholic Bishops advise careful consideration of candidates’ positions on a broad set of issues.” This type of consideration, according to the council, is bolstered by the U.S. bishops’ document “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship”.

The advisors quote from paragraph 29 of the bishops’ document, where the bishops explain that Catholics cannot be against abortion and simultaneously ignore other offenses against human life.

They advisors point out that this means, “particular issues must not be misused ‘as a way of dismissing or ignoring other serious threats to human life and dignity’ such as ‘racism and other unjust discrimination, the use of the death penalty, resorting to unjust war, the use of torture, war crimes, the failure to respond to those who are suffering from hunger or a lack of health care or an unjust immigration policy’."

Read their entire response here (PDF format). Donahue responded on May 8th:

“The reason I mentioned only public officials who are part of Sen. Obama’s Catholic National Advisory Council is the same reason I chose just three public policy issues: voting tallies are available on these advisors (but not on the others) and on these three issues. If I knew more about the others, no doubt some would have made the cut.

“It is more than embarrassing—it is shocking—to read how these Catholics view abortion. The Catholic Church regards abortion, as well as embryonic stem cell research, as ‘intrinsically evil.’ But not these folks. For them, abortion is merely ‘a profound moral issue.’

“Sadly, it has been apparent for years that many who fancy themselves ‘progressive’ Catholics do not treat abortion the way they do racial discrimination. No one in his right mind says that the best way to combat racial discrimination is by changing people’s hearts and minds, not the law. Which is why we do both. But when it comes to abortion—including partial-birth abortion—the progressives settle for dialogue.

“It is so nice to know that Obama thinks abortion ‘presents a profound moral challenge.’ Is infanticide another ‘profound moral challenge’? To wit: When he was in the Illinois state senate he led the fight to deny health care to babies born alive who survived an abortion. That, my friends, is not a moral challenge—it’s a Hitlerian decision.”

• Sen. Barack Obama: "I don't know anybody who is pro-abortion." (Jan. 24, 2008)
• That's why Catholics should vote for Sen. Obama? (Feb. 15, 2008)
• Catholic reporter defends his support for Obama, stating: "bishops be damned" (Feb. 15, 2008)
• The soul of Senator Barack Obama (Feb. 28, 2008)

Comments

[Brian Schuettler]

Bill Donahue of the Catholic League: The Hammer of God.
I wish he were Bishop Bill Donahue!

[Catherine Harmon]

Am I the only one who thinks it is odd that Donahue places school vouchers on the same moral plane as abortion and embryonic stem cell research? Should it really be in the top three issues for Catholic voters? I mean, I'm sure a similar point about the make-up of Obama's Catholic advisory board could be made with any number of much weightier moral issues (same-sex marriage comes immediately to mind). It seems to me that Donahue undercuts the seriousness of these issues by saying, "These people claim to be Catholic but support killing babies and using the pieces for scientific research. Oh, AND they're opposed to school vouchers."

[John Hetman]

"Am I the only one who thinks it is odd that Donahue places school vouchers on the same moral plane as abortion and embryonic stem cell research?"

No, I am sure that you're not the only one, Catherine. It puzzled me as well--like on a test when one has to chose which of the three objects just doesn't fit. Perhaps, Mr. Donahue was in a hurry when he wrote he wrote his piece.

What's interesting about the collection of these dissenters (aka, apostates) in this group is that they could very easily be the board of directors of AmChurch--if all of its membership has soon died first from old age.

[Carl Olson]

Cate: No, you aren't alone. You're correct: it does undermine the seriousness of his proper criticism. I really admire a lot of the work Donahue does, but I think he would be more effective in many cases if he stayed a bit more focused with his language and tactics.

[Brian Schuettler]

Well, he may not be perfect, and the comments here certainly are valid, but at least he stands tall for the Church.

[crankycon]

Yeah, the inclusion of vouchers in the big three can politely be called a brainfart. But, otherwise, Donahue is right on the money.

[Cajun Nick Jagneaux]

I agree that the inclusion of school vouchers was just a bit jarring when I first read it.

However, given the context - a group of Catholic dissenters who are supporting a Democrat for president - I think that the inclusion has merit.

The Democrat Party is beholden to the work of teachers' unions (as a field representative of the National Association of Educators, I know this first-hand - but that a whole 'nother story).

The politically active teachers' union members care MUCH more about the voucher issue than any other issue.

So, I think that the reason that Donohue included school vouchers on the list is precisely because it is one of the defining issues for Democrat activists.

Donohue is in a position not only to defend the faith, but to "talk politics" while defending the faith. In order to do so, he's got to bring up the very issues that itch these liberal supporters where they scratch.

[Cajun Nick Jagneaux]

Um ... that should have read "as a former field representative" of the NEA. That's a very siginificant word to leave out.

(And I thank God I was given the grace to leave that job.)

[BillyHW]

School vouchers? Someone send this guy an editor.

[Carl Olson]

but at least he stands tall for the Church.

Absolutely. And I am thankful that Donahue is out there on the front lines dealing with these issues. But there are times when his polemics can overshadow the truthfulness of his criticisms. Then again, when it comes to polemics, I doubt I should be calling the kettle black...

[Peadar Ban]

Yes, thank God for William Donohue.

I read the letter that the Apostates for Obama wrote in reply to his kind words to them. I stopped to ponder an answer to their question of him about what the Republicans have done to end abortion in all these years since 1973.

Where does one begin?

Well they've never prevented anyone from saying anything out loud against abortion. They don't speak at NARAL conventions. They haven't made public statements that no one would be nominated for an appointment to the judiciary who doesn't support the murder of children, oops, abortion.

Anything else.

Not only are these folks morally blind, they're breathtakingly stupid.

[LJ]

I was under the impression that the function of a Catholic Advisory Board would be to represent the Catholic position to Senator Obama. But it seems that this board's function is to represent Senator Obama to Catholics.

No wonder they assumed (in the first line or two of their response) that Donahue's critique was a partisan attack. And, of course, it was signed by a large number of elected partisans.

[Carl Olson]

I was under the impression that the function of a Catholic Advisory Board would be to represent the Catholic position to Senator Obama. But it seems that this board's function is to represent Senator Obama to Catholics.

Perfectly summarized and stated!

[Nino]

Here we go again with Donohue.he is the one who was in bed with Guiliani time and time again.a phony issue of a painting in a small museum..americas mayor pretended he was upset about the concept.and Donohue played it up big.no 'catholic' has insulted the RCC more then Guiliani and the so called catholic league has never hit this evil man...at least Obama and Hillary dont claim to be christian..McCain is the most evil for he waves the flag but is an internationalist...

[Dan Deeny]

Sen. Obama's vote to deny aid to a baby born alive during an abortion is interesting. Normal people think we should all help babies, don't they? Is Sen. Obama okay? Wouldn't you have to be crazy (in the medical sense of the term) not to want to help a baby?