Catholics for Faithful Citizenship on CAFTA's passage

[CarolNYC]

Received this this morning from Catholics for Faithful Citizenship, which has been very active and vocal in their oppostion to CAFTA:

Greetings Catholics for Faithful Citizenship,

As you know, the extremist House Majority Leadership pulled its usual tactics to pass a bad trade agreement for America last night by breaking House Rules and leaving the vote open past the allotted 15 minutes, so back room deals and arm twisting could be done at the expense of American jobs and the lives of millions in Central America. Below are Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s remarks to the House prior to the vote. We will issue a press release today identifying those Catholic Members of the House, both Democrat and Republican who went against a culture of life and the Bishops advice.

Best Regards and God Bless,

Eric McFadden - President
Catholics for Faithful Citizenship
www.catholicsforfaithfulcitizenship.org

The poverty of billions of men and women is “the one issue that most challenges our human and Christian consciences.”
--Pope John Paul II, World Day of Peace Message, 200

[still_one]

1. it is a little late now

the opportunity was in 2004 when many Catholics helped bush win

[CarolNYC]

2. Yeah, well this group

was trying to stop that from happening too....Unfortunately, all Catholics are not so enlightened. :(

[still_one]

3. It wasn't just Catholics

many from labor and other areas voted against their own interest also

[IndianaGreen]

4. Thank you for posting this story, CarolNYC

I encourage all DUers to find out why this group opposes CAFTA. From their website:

"In the process of world globalization, the gap between rich and poor countries is ever greater. In the face of populations that live in conditions of unacceptable misery, in the face of those who are in situations of hunger, poverty and growing social inequalities, it is urgent to intervene to safeguard the dignity of the person and to foster the promotion of the common good.” -- John Paul II

“The law of profit alone cannot be applied to that which is essential for the fight against hunger, disease and poverty.” -- Holy Sees Note on Access to Medicines, June 22, 2001


CAFTA is a death sentence for people with HIV/AIDS. If passed by Congress, The Central American Free Trade Agreement would make it much harder for the 275,000 HIV-infected people in the region to get access to the medicines they need to live. Thousands of lives are at stake.

http://www.catholicsforfaithfulcitizenship.org/CaftaLife.htm

[ulysses]

5. thanks for this, IG

The predicament of the HIV-infected folks in the region is the most disgusting of many disgusting things about CAFTA.

[CarolNYC]

6. you're welcome

Here's their press release:

07/28/05

Catholics for Faithful Citizenship
For Immediate Release
Contact Eric McFadden
[e-mail]
http://www.catholicsforfaithfulcitizenship.org/

Fifty Six members of Congress, all of whom claim to be Catholic, are dead wrong on CAFTA. Their votes show, that they do not understand basic Catholic teaching on this critical issue.

The fact is that CAFTA is a Right to life issue yet; there are 56 members of Congress who, as Catholics, have arrogantly acted against Church teaching.

Today's release calls on each of these members listed below to explain to their Bishops why they voted in a manner that is against what the Church teaches. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops was clear that CAFTA in the form passed by Congress was not a moral document. By passing CAFTA these Catholic members of Congress have put at risk the lives of thousands of Central Americans. They have also put at risk the jobs and livelihoods of thousands of Americans.

"CAFTA is inconsistent with the principles of our faith and our efforts to build a culture of life." - Bishop Arthur Tafoya - Diocese of Pueblo CO.

It is clear that each of these elected officials is either not aware of Catholic Social Teaching or has made a conscious decision to ignore it. It is sad that these Catholic members of Congress made the decision to put the greed of corporations ahead of the lives and welfare of so many Americans, Central Americans and the least among us.

United States Senate:
Jim Bunning
Maria Cantwell
Mike DeWine
Pete Domenici
Mel Martinez
Lisa Murkowski
Patty Murray
Rick Santorum
John Sununu
George Voinovich

US House of Representatives
Bob Beauprez
Sherwood Boehlert
John Boehner
Kevin Brady
Virginia Brown-Waite
Dave Camp
Michael Castle
Steve Chabot
Christopher Cox
Henry Cuellar
Lincoln Diaz-Balart
Mario Diaz-Balart
Phil English
Michael FergusonR
Michael Fitzpatrick
Mark Foley
Jeff Fortenberry
Vito Fossella
Phil Gingrey
Mark Green
Melissa Hart
Ruben Hinojosa
Kenny Hulshof
Henry Hyde
Mark Kennedy
Peter King
Steve King
Joe Knollenberg
Ray LaHood
Michael McCaul
James Moran
Tim Murphy
Anne Northrup
Richard Pombo
Jon Porter
George Radanovich
Rick Renzi
Ed Royce
Paul Ryan
Joe Schwarz
Clay Shaw
Christopher Smith
John Sullivan
John Sweeney
Patrick Tiberi
James Walsh


..........

I just think it's too bad that nuts like those who were denying Catholics Communion if they supported John Kerry get all of the attention and folks like this group, or my Mom's priests....one of whom, when speaking of how respect for life is forgotten, mentions not abortion or Terry Schiavo but the fact that we are waging wars around the world and the other who spoke very eloquently before November's election about how the Church had condemned the War....are hardly noticed.