Catholics United
Encyclopedia
Catholics United is a U.S.-based non-profit 501(c)(4) political organization made up of Roman Catholics "dedicated to promoting the message of justice and the common good found at the heart of the Catholic Social Tradition." The group claims a total membership of 42,000. Though not affiliated with the institutional Catholic Church, it has had a significant effect on the religious and politics debate in the U.S.
The organization is known for its support for progressive causes, including health care reform, immigration reform, clean energy, workers' rights, and rights for gays and lesbians. Catholics United is frequently targeted by conservatives and pro-life groups, such as the Catholic League
. These groups allege Catholics United opposes the teachings of the Catholic Church in various areas, including abortion and lifestyle choices.
Catholics United is directed by Chris Korzen
, a writer and former union organizer. His experience with unions is very important to the Catholic Church, as the Catholic Church holds a pro-union and pro-organized labor stance as central to its teachings.
and James Salt, who still serve as the organization's primary leadership team. It grew out of a 2004 effort called the Catholic Voting Project, which opposed Republican efforts to convince Catholic voters it was immoral to vote for U.S. Presidential candidate John Kerry
because of his support for abortion
rights.
by running TV ads in several Congressional districts. The ads challenged claims by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and other conservative groups that the bill allowed for federal funding of abortion.
in support of the Employee Free Choice Act
. It also ran radio ads supporting the Energy Bill.
's former Catholic advisor Deal Hudson told U.S. News and World Report that Catholics United and its allies "made a big difference" in the election.
, Kathy Dahlkemper
, Steve Driehaus
, and Tom Perriello
in their unsuccessful reelection bids.
. Catholics United denied the organization received this funding. However, Catholics United executive director Chris Korzen told conservative blogger Deal Hudson that his organization "would have absolutely no problem doing so."
and the administration of President Barack Obama
. A 2006 news report suggests that future U.S. Representative Tom Perriello
worked with the organization, and Catholics United executive director Chris Korzen's name appears several times on White House
visitor logs.
The organization is known for its support for progressive causes, including health care reform, immigration reform, clean energy, workers' rights, and rights for gays and lesbians. Catholics United is frequently targeted by conservatives and pro-life groups, such as the Catholic League
Catholic League (U.S.)
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, often shortened to the Catholic League, is an American Catholic anti-defamation and civil rights organization...
. These groups allege Catholics United opposes the teachings of the Catholic Church in various areas, including abortion and lifestyle choices.
Catholics United is directed by Chris Korzen
Chris Korzen
Chris Korzen is an American progressive political activist and author. He is co-founder and director of the influential liberal organization Catholics United. Korzen lives in Portland, Maine.-Education and career:...
, a writer and former union organizer. His experience with unions is very important to the Catholic Church, as the Catholic Church holds a pro-union and pro-organized labor stance as central to its teachings.
History
Catholics United was founded in 2005 by Catholic social justice activists Chris KorzenChris Korzen
Chris Korzen is an American progressive political activist and author. He is co-founder and director of the influential liberal organization Catholics United. Korzen lives in Portland, Maine.-Education and career:...
and James Salt, who still serve as the organization's primary leadership team. It grew out of a 2004 effort called the Catholic Voting Project, which opposed Republican efforts to convince Catholic voters it was immoral to vote for U.S. Presidential candidate John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
because of his support for abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
rights.
Health care reform
In March 2010, Catholics United played a key role in convincing pro-life Catholic members of the U.S. House of Representatives to vote for final passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care ActPatient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
by running TV ads in several Congressional districts. The ads challenged claims by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and other conservative groups that the bill allowed for federal funding of abortion.
Gay and lesbian rights
Although it has not opposed the Catholic Church's moral teachings on marriage, Catholics United has openly criticized efforts within the church to deny rights to gays and lesbians. In March 2010, director Chris Korzen appeared on CNN to challenge the Archdiocese of Washington, DC's protest of a law requiring employers to grant benefits to same-sex partners. In May 2010, Catholics United criticized a Boston-area Catholic school's decision to deny admission to the child of a lesbian couple.Workers' rights and energy
In 2009, Catholics United ran radio ads featuring actor Martin SheenMartin Sheen
Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez , better known by his stage name Martin Sheen, is an American film actor best known for his performances in the films Badlands and Apocalypse Now , and in the television series The West Wing from 1999 to 2006.He is considered one of the best actors never to be...
in support of the Employee Free Choice Act
Employee Free Choice Act
The Employee Free Choice Act was a legislative bill that was introduced into both chambers of the U.S. Congress on March 10, 2009. The bill's purpose was to,...
. It also ran radio ads supporting the Energy Bill.
2008
Catholics United played an active role in shaping the religion and politics debate around the 2008 U.S. Presidential election. In 2009, President George W. BushGeorge W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's former Catholic advisor Deal Hudson told U.S. News and World Report that Catholics United and its allies "made a big difference" in the election.
2010
In July 2010, Catholics United announced a $500,000 campaign supporting Catholic Democratic U.S. Representatives John BoccieriJohn Boccieri
John Boccieri is a one-term U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. He was defeated by Republican Jim Renacci on November 2, 2010. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served in the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives.-Early life and career:Boccieri...
, Kathy Dahlkemper
Kathy Dahlkemper
Kathleen Ann "Kathy" Dahlkemper is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. She is a member of the Democratic Party.The district is based in Erie and includes most of the northwestern portion of the state....
, Steve Driehaus
Steve Driehaus
Steven L. "Steve" Driehaus is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
, and Tom Perriello
Tom Perriello
Thomas Stuart Price "Tom" Perriello is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes much of Southside Virginia and stretches north to Charlottesville....
in their unsuccessful reelection bids.
Funding
Conservative Catholic groups have accused Catholics United of accepting money from liberal funder George SorosGeorge Soros
George Soros is a Hungarian-American business magnate, investor, philosopher, and philanthropist. He is the chairman of Soros Fund Management. Soros supports progressive-liberal causes...
. Catholics United denied the organization received this funding. However, Catholics United executive director Chris Korzen told conservative blogger Deal Hudson that his organization "would have absolutely no problem doing so."
Abortion and same-sex marriage
LifeNews.com, a website for opponents of abortion, has labeled Catholics United a "fake" Catholic group, because it seeks to "promote Church teaching on human life" by "ending or reducing abortions" rather than by criminalizing them or restricting access. The group has been criticized by some conservative Catholic bishops, although not the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops as a whole.Political affiliations
Although Catholics United claims to be a nonpartisan organization, it appears to have strong ties to the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and the administration of President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
. A 2006 news report suggests that future U.S. Representative Tom Perriello
Tom Perriello
Thomas Stuart Price "Tom" Perriello is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes much of Southside Virginia and stretches north to Charlottesville....
worked with the organization, and Catholics United executive director Chris Korzen's name appears several times on White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
visitor logs.