Press
Democrats Playing With Fire in Virginia - Attack on Catholic Comes at a Bad Time
September 12, 2008
CHICAGO – The national Catholic based advocacy group Fidelis is calling on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to immediately suspend a series of attack mailings directed against Virginia congressional candidate Keith Fimian’s Catholic faith.
The ads explicitly attack Fimian for his association with Legatus, a prominent Catholic social organization that does not take any political stands. The group was heralded by the late Pope John Paul II, and is active in providing spiritual assistance to business leaders in dioceses across the country. The mailings chastise Fimian for participating in a group that “promotes rolling back women’s rights,” and “encouraging women to be more submissive.”
Fidelis president Brian Burch commented: “The attack mailings against Keith Fimian are simply beyond the pale. If the Democratic Party wants to criticize Fimian on the issues, they are more than welcome to do so. But to attack a faithful Catholic because of his private association with a non political group that is well respected and active in the Church smacks of a level of religious bigotry that has no place in American politics.”
“What the producers of these mailings ironically forgot is that Catholics also believe that men must love their wives, as Christ loved the Church. Which means, devoting their lives unconditionally to their spouses, taking Christ’s death on the cross as their model,” said Burch.
The controversial mailings come on the heels of public comments by House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi and vice presidential candidate Senator Joe Biden, who have been publicly criticized for obscuring the clear teaching of the Catholic Church on sanctity of human life. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, along with other prominent bishops, issued statements correcting both Biden and Pelosi.
“American Catholics are in the midst of a historic period as they seek to discern the proper role of conscience and faith when it comes to political choices. The Democratic Party has been a friend to Catholic voters in the past, yet over the years has left many Catholics behind by embracing positions incompatible with Catholic teaching,” continued Burch.
“If the Democratic Party is truly serious about appealing to Catholic voters, they will end this smear campaign against Keith Fimian’s Catholic faith.”