Subject: [Roman Catholic] Chaplains Gagged ?

To: All From: Charles Sumner Date: 6/29/96

The following message from Paul Schomburg was received netmail. Individual replies to him [pschom@nmaa.org ] should go out netmail, since he is not on the Church&State echo. (The Family Research Council is a Religious Right affiliate.)

In the attached press release the Family Research Council noted that Clinton appointees have moved to silence [Roman] Catholic chaplains in the military. Seems like a denial of freedom of speech and religion to me - any other opinions? If you have any questions or comments about the Family Research Council, please visit their web site at: http://www.frc.org Yours in Christ, Paul

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 28, 1996

CONTACT: Kristin Hansen (202)-393-2100

CLINTON ADMINISTRATION TREADS ON RELIGIOUS,

CIVIL RIGHTS OF [Roman] CATHOLICS IN THE MILITARY

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- "President Bill Clinton's administration has gagged [Roman] Catholic chaplains in the military," Family Research Council President Gary L. Bauer noted on Friday. In response to a massive post card mailing from the National Conference of Catholic Bishops calling upon the Congress to ensure the acceptance of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, HR 1833, Clinton's appointees in the Pentagon moved to silence [Roman] Catholic chaplains. An order was sent from the Pentagon to the military chaplains not to participate in the post card mailing.

"[Roman] Catholic service members and their families will thus be denied the guidance of their priests and their bishops. They will also be prevented from participating in an effort to communicate to the Congress their own strongly held beliefs on one of the premier moral issues of our day," Bauer said.

Bauer said he deplored the Clinton administration action.

"This is denial of the religious and civil rights of Catholic Americans serving in the military. Every day, these loyal Americans put their lives on the line to defend our liberties. They deserve respect, not abuse."

Bauer noted Clinton administration claims that the pro-life post card campaign constitutes "partisan political activity." But this claim is belied by the fact that the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban was passed by overwhelmingly bi-partisan majorities in both houses. Among the supporters in the House were such leading Democrats as Minority Leader Dick Gephardt (Mo.), Minority Whip David Bonior (Mich.) and freshman Patrick Kennedy (R.I.). In the Senate, respected senior Democrat, Daniel Patrick Moynihan (N.Y.) vowed to support the override of Clinton's April 10 veto. "It's just too close to infanticide," Moynihan said.

"Family Research Council endorses the efforts of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops to communicate with their co-religionists in the armed forces," Bauer said. "We will stand beside our friends in defense of children threatened by this hideous and painful method of abortion."

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR INTERVIEWS CONTACT THE FRC MEDIA OFFICE.

Origin: The FROG Pond Rochester, NY USA! (1:2613/270.0)

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