CHICAGO – Catholic voters attuned to speculation over possible vice presidential candidates are expressing concern over reports that Senator Barack Obama is seriously considering a pro-abortion Catholic as his running mate.  According to Fidelis, a national Catholic based advocacy group, such a choice would represent a major insult to Catholic voters who are still evaluating his candidacy.

“The choice of a pro-abortion Catholic for vice president would deal a major blow to any efforts by the Obama campaign to reach out to Catholic voters,” said Brian Burch, President of Fidelis.  “Both the bishops and the laity continue to wrestle with the scandal of prominent Catholic politicians who support abortion, and the choice of a pro-abortion Catholic running mate would amount to scratching at a deep and festering wound in the American Catholic Church.”

Most recently, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine has been discussed as a good fit for Obama given his Catholic faith and purported ‘pro-life’ views.  

“Tim Kaine deserves some credit for supporting a ban on partial birth abortion, but he has also made clear that he is totally committed to protecting the right to kill unborn children, in direct opposition to his Church,” said Burch.  

“Opposing the barbaric practice of infanticide is better than Barack Obama, but it hardly qualifies one as pro-life,” said Burch.  “Sadly Kaine represents yet another politician who professes to be ‘personally opposed’ yet refuses to back any meaningful efforts to stop abortion in America.”

Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius also has received attention as a possible running mate, yet her own Bishop recently asked that she refrain from receiving communion because of her heavy handed opposition to any effort to protect women and children from the tragedy of abortion.  The Catholic governor was also recently exposed for hosting notorious late term abortion doctor George Tiller at the governor’s mansion.

Separately, Senators Joe Biden and Chris Dodd have both been mentioned as possible vice presidential picks.  Both Senators are notorious supporters of abortion with consistent voting records in support of abortion.  Dodd also recently insulted millions of Catholics by receiving communion  during the papal mass celebrated by Benedict XVI.

“Given his position on abortion, everyone expects Senator Obama to select a pro-abortion vice presidential candidate.  But the choice of a Catholic who publicly rejects the teachings of their faith on this ‘foundational’ issue could be disastrous,” said Burch.  “Just ask John Kerry or Rudy Giuliani.”

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Fidelis (Latin for faithful) is the universal name for a group of Catholic-based political, legal, research and educational organizations whose collective mission it is to formulate, promote, and defend public policies that uphold religious freedom, human life from conception to natural death, and the traditional institutions of marriage and family.

Our structure and approach is designed to coordinate the efforts of four related organizations under a comprehensive structure and unifying vision in order to effectively shape public debate, influence public policy, and defend critical freedoms in areas consistent with its mission. In this objective, Fidelis is unique in combining political, legal, policy and educational components at the service of one mission.

Fidelis consists of four organizations:

The universal name Fidelis is our flagship 501(c)(4) membership organization engaged in lobbying, public education, and the advancement of issues related to life, faith, and family.
Under its universal designation, Fidelis works to shape public debate and formulates public policy that promotes religious freedom, values human life and upholds the institutions of marriage and the family.

Fidelis Political Action is a federal Political Action Committee (PAC). Members of Fidelis can contribute to this PAC to help elect candidates who support a culture of life, traditional marriage and family friendly policies.

Fidelis Center for Law and Policy is our 501(c)3 legal and educational arm established to organize, coordinate, and engage in strategic litigation designed to defend religious liberty, the traditional family, and a culture of life. The Center works with expert attorneys across the country to initiate, fund, and coordinate legal efforts.

Fidelis Media Fund is a public-education entity set up as an IRS Section 527 organization. The Media Fund participates in public education campaigns to champion religious freedom, a culture of life and marriage and the family by engaging voters and concerned citizens on important policy issues and judicial nominations. The media fund develops compelling and sharply-focused mailings, print, radio and television advertising to reinforce grassroots initiatives on these same fronts. Our team is reinforced by media experts who have a wealth of experience in political and corporate media projects.