Report shows Catholics don't support exemptions, discrimination
A report sponsored by Call To Action, Catholics for Choice, DignityUSA and the Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual shows what we've known all along: Catholics follow their conscience, not the dictates of the Bishops.
The survey was part of an effort to educate law makers on the harm caused by religious exemptions, and let them know that Catholic voters don't support discrimination. The report can be read here and was accompanied by this letter. It strongly shows the Catholic rejection of discrimination:
74% of Catholic voters oppose "a law that would allow companies or other institutions to use the owner's religious beliefs as a reason to deny services to employees or customers"
90% disapprove of a company firing an employee for becoming pregnant outside of marriage
87% disapprove of an organization which receives public funds being allowed to refuse to hire someone because they are gay or lesbian
71% of Catholic voters support "ensuring all women have the same access to insurance for birth control, regardless of where they work
Today, representatives of the sponsoring organizations, including CTA, briefed members of Congress on the polling data and the many ways that religious exemptions hurt Americans. As elected leaders, it is important also that Congressional members know that the Bishops don't speak for Catholics. 89% of Catholic voters polled said they don't believe Catholics have an obligation to vote for candidates recommended by their Bishop and 80% reject the idea that they must vote on issues in the way a Bishop tells them to.
“The truth is, Catholics support the rights of conscience, religious liberty and human dignity for all people,” said Sara Hutchinson Ratcliffe of CFC. “We’re taking this message to policymakers on Capitol Hill and to statehouses across the country—it’s time to speak up for those left behind and fight for their rights.”
Katie and the others briefing members of Congress today will share stories of the many ways that the religious exemptions which were expanded by the Hobby Lobby decision as well as past litigation and legislation, and which the Bishops hope to enshrine, hurt U.S. voters. Stories of teachers who fear they will be fired if their sexual orientation is discovered, of employees at non-profits struggling to pay for contraception and of hard working people fired for getting pregnant or married. Of this discrimination under the guise of "religious freedom" the letter says, "sadly, our government is giving them its blessing to do so. As a result, the common good for which we strive is imperiled, and the social justice to which we are committed seems an ever more distant goal. "Ahead of the polling data and in-person meetings, the groups also sent a letter to all Congressional members, which was signed by many Catholic lay organizations including CTA chapters."
Using the right words to do the wrong thing doesn’t help people. It hurts them. Catholics cannot claim that our religion gives us an excuse to discriminate against someone who is married to someone of the same sex. Catholics cannot claim that our religion tells us to interfere with someone else’s decision about whether or not to be pregnant. Catholics cannot claim that our religion condones discrimination against people who work for Catholic institutions, or any employer. Unfortunately, at the behest of the bishops and their allies, these misrepresentations of Catholicism are being used to deny the rights and religious liberty of our fellow citizens." Reads the letter, "Catholics do not want the government to create special rules or exemptions from the law for some people, some groups of people, or some businesses. This goes against our very notion of social justice and the common good. We are not asking for special privileges or for the right to use our religion to discriminate. We do not believe it is acceptable to trade away the rights of our fellow Americans to appease a few powerful interests."
