John McCain Gains Support From Prominent Catholic Pro-Life Advocates
(Hat tip: PewSitter.com)
From LifeNews.com:
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- John McCain's campaign released a list on Monday of more than 100 prominent Catholic pro-life advocates who have endorsed his campaign. The list includes several people who are the heads of top pro-life organizations who [have] issued personal endorsements of the likely Republican nominee.My Comments:
The list includes Dr. Jack Willke, the former president and founder of the National Right to Life Committee and Dominos Pizza and Ave Maria University founder Tom Monaghan.
Marjorie Dannenfelser, the head of the Susan B. Anthony List, a top pro-life political group, has endorsed McCain as has her husband Martin Dannenfelser, a former Family Research Council vice president.
Austin Ruse, president of the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute, and Cathy Ruse, the former pro-life spokeswoman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops are McCain supporters as well.
Sen. Sam Brownback heads up the Catholics for McCain effort and he said the long list of pro-life advocates supporting the Arizona senator is a result of his support for "faith, freedom, and families."
"Committed to the protection of innocent human life, he is a leader Catholics will be proud to support," Brownback said.
"John McCain knows from experience what it means when a society tramples on the truth of the value of the human person. He is committed to defending the dignity and value of every person, regardless of their status," Brownback added.
McCain said he appreciated the support of the pro-life Catholic activists and pointed out that he will represent their pro-life views on abortion as president.
"I am humbled by the support of such a diverse group of Catholic leaders who ... advocate for the protection of innocent human life," he said.
"I stand firmly with those Catholics who believe that human rights are natural rights for all people, in all places, and in all stages of life," McCain explained.
Joseph Cella, the founder of the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, syndicated columnist Linda Chavez, Catholic Alliance former president Maureen Roselli, John Smeaton of the Southeast Pennsylvania Pro-Life Union, and former National Right to Life director Warren Sweeney have endorsed McCain.
***
Several top pro-life law professors are also on McCain's side including University of Notre Dame School of Law professor Gerry Bradley, Catholic University of America law professor Bob Destro, Ave Maria School of Law Dean Bernard Dobranski, and Princeton University professor Robert George.
[More]
Knowing that McCain is the most vocal Republican proponent in the U.S. Senate for overturning President Bush's ESCR veto, I just don't see how these folks can heap such praise as "He is committed to defending the dignity and value of every person, regardless of their status" upon McCain with a straight face.
UPDATE
Here is the McCain press release that was released yesterday: “John McCain Wins Catholic Support Nationwide”
(Hat tip: Feddie)
Previous Pro Ecclesia posts on this subject:
More McCain Cheerleading by National Catholic Register
National Catholic Register: "McCain and Pro-Lifers"
Associated Press: Brownback Working To Persuade Christian Conservatives To McCain
How the Catholic Left Will Tackle McCain
Brownback: “Pro-Lifers Can Trust McCain”
McCain Endorsed by "Republicans for Choice"
National Catholic Register: "McCain Sits Down for Life"
National Catholic Register on Candidate Endorsements by Pro-Life Catholics
Sam Brownback Lobbying John McCain on Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Two Catholic Pro-Life Advocates Endorse John McCain's GOP Presidential Bid
McCain Gets Help from Brownback to Lure Catholics
Labels: McCain, Pro-Life, The Catholic Vote
posted by Pro Ecclesia 7:44 AM
9 comments
9 Comments:
We agree that Senator Brownback's quote was a little over the top. We support McCain in spite of his wrong position on embryo-destructive research. We have spoken to Senator McCain about it and will continue pressing him.
All the best,
Austin and Cathy Ruse
Why would Austin and Cathy Ruse respond to Senator Brownback with the undertoe of political opposition to Senator Brownback?
I've always been a supporter of Austin Ruse but have grown increasingly appalled by the way he conducts himself.
On the call, everyone very succinctly stated their name and affiliation and proceeded with their question. When it came to Austin, he launched an infomercial about himself as everyone sat on the call cringed wondering if he was ever going to get to the question for the Senator. There was an embarrassing implicit message that Austin was groveling to get into the political momentum that has apparently taken off without him.
The political timing was beyond amateur.
Seems in the past few years, he's dissatisfied with his political influence and doesn't know how to win friends and influence people so his behavior has deteriorated into unbecoming.
Carol McKinley
Boston
Let's try to keep the discussion from becoming personal. Thanks.
(I do appreciate your willingess to identify your name and location in your comment, however.)
Jay,
I'm a little unclear. Was your comment to the Ruses vis a vis their comment on Senator Brownback?
Peace -
Carol McKinley
Boson
I am one of Sen. Brownback's biggest fans, as anyone who reads this blog regularly could attest. I supported him for President before he even announced he was running, and was extremely disappointed when he ended his bid early. I had intended to write him in on my ballot in the Ohio Primary last week, but the electronic voting machines at our precinct did not allow write-in votes. My sincere hope is that McCain will add Sen. Brownback to the ticket as his running mate - THAT would secure my vote for him in November.
So, I am second-to-none in my admiration of Sen. Brownback. But even I think his praise of McCain's pro-life credentials sometimes goes a little overboard.
In other words, there's a way to stay on the record as not being in sync with McCain's ESCR position without pulling Senator Brownback out of the line up and use the words "over the top". Smacks of something personal against Senator Brownback.
Carol McKinley
p.s. Your family is beautiful.
Thanks!
;-)
Jay,
I wasn't questioning your support of Sen. Brownback and I understand your frustration with ESCR.
With McCain's active record for many years opposing abortion, reasonable people conclude that Sen McCain has an excellent pro-life performance (unlike Romney).
Austin and Cathy's comment directed towards Sen. Brownback has the taste of something personal and yucky. Since it isn't the first time I've run into it, I thought it worth mentioning how offensive the undertow is. As you rightly say, the personal stuff is childish and off limits.
Carol McKinley
I appreciate your contributions, Carol; and I certainly didn't take your comments as questioning my support for Sen. Brownback.
And, although I'm still not convinced that McCain has the fire in the belly when it comes to social issues (see my post today re: Santorum calling for McCain to be more responsive on those issues), I agree with you 100% that McCain's record is preferable to Romney's. I never understood the "mainstream" conservative fascination with that phony.
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