"What we seek is not a religious interest group, but a community of conscience within the larger society.... This kind of political responsibility does not involve religious leaders telling people how to vote or religious tests for candidates. These would be, in our view, pastorally inappropriate, theologically unsound and politically unwise....We draw our principles from Catholic teaching and tradition, not partisan platforms or ideological agendas." (Political Responsibility, Reflections of the 1996 Elections by the Administrative Board of the United States Catholic Conference)

Archbishop Cardinal Bernard Law of the Boston, MA Archdiocese
In a January 1996 letter to the archdiocese the Cardinal stated:

"1. To our knowledge the Catholic Alliance leadership has never asked nor received from any bishop permission to use the term Catholic. therefore the Group has no official recognition as a Catholic organization."

"2. The Catholic Alliance in the words of the leader of the Christian Coalition, is a "wholly owned subsidiary of the Christian Coalition." Therefore it should be seen as inspired and guided by the same principles as the Christian Coalition.

"4 . . .For example there is a significant difference between the Christian Coalition and the Catholic bishops on welfare reform and health care issues.

"5. Because the alliance is an explicitly political group, it would be inappropriate to allow them, as well as any other political group, use of church facilities.

Archbishop Cardinal Roger Mahoney of the Los Angles, CA Archdiocese
In addition to mailing his pastors Cardinal Law's letter on the Catholic Alliance, Cardinal Mahony told the L.A. Times on 3/2/96 that:

"It is an attempt to organize Catholics in this country as a branch of the Christian Coalition. I see in it a great deal of danger because it sounds as if it is Catholic and a lot of people I know are confused and think somehow the church position supports it."

The L.A. Times reported that: "Mahony urged Catholics to 'stay away' from the Christian Coalition's Catholic Arm, the Catholic Alliance. Repeatedly, Mahony urged Catholic voters to study the issues carefully and make 'informed choices'" (3/2/95 L.A. Times)

Bishop John McCarthy of the Austin, TX Diocese
It's basically dishonest. They've developed something called the Catholic Alliance. If you use the word ''Catholic,'' you think it's Catholic.

". . .The bishops have made it clear they don't want to have anything to do with it. There'll be some who will join. Whether it will be successful, I doubt it. I certainly hope it isn't." Austin American-Statesman, February 25, 1996

Bishop Walter Sullivan of the Richmond, VA Diocese
In a letter to pastors in the Richmond diocese, the Bishop wrote:

"We cannot allow the church to be used for partisan purposes."

"I write to affirm the long-standing policy of the Diocese which prohibits the distribution of voter guides. . . It is equally inappropriate for parishes to allow partisan groups to solicit membership support from parishioners."

Bishop Howard Hubbard of the Albany, N.Y Diocese

"Like many of you, I suspect, I recently received literature from the newly formed organization, the Catholic Alliance of the Christian Coalition. The literature, which was mailed immediately after our Holy Father departed from his recent visit to the United States, contained a lengthy fundraising letter and a congressional scorecard."

"the clearly partisan tone, blatant untruths contained in the score card, the inference that the Alliance speaks for the Holy Father and thus is officially Catholic, and the organization's stated purpose of giving America's 50,000,000 Catholics a voice in government.'"

Archbishop J. Francis Stafford of the Denver, CO Archdiocese
Bishop Richard C. Hanifen of the Colorado Springs, CO Diocese
Bishop Arthur Tafoya of the Pueblo, CO Diocese

In a letter sent to 200 pastors the bishops stated:

"We are concerned by the organizing efforts of many groups, including the Christian Coalition, who seeks to mobilize our Catholic people and represent the so-called "Catholic position" without any word of communication with the bishops' conference or its representatives. We must say as strongly as possible: The Catholic Alliance of the
Christian Coalition does not represent the Catholic Church. The Catholic
Church addresses issues of morality, justice, peace and human dignity" through
the National Conference of Catholic Bishops."

". . .The most significant difference between the Catholic Church and the Christian Coalition is what is not on the coalition's agenda -- legislation and policies to protect poor children and families, immigrants and the active pursuit of international peace."

"The bishops said the Catholic Church may agree with the coalition on some
issues, such as "abortion, euthanasia and pornography, but we sharply disagree
on issues such as welfare reform, capital punishment and health-care reform."

"They said the most "significant" differences the Catholic Church has with
Christian Coalition is that the Catholic Church works to protect poor children
and families as well as immigrants and works for international peace."

Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien of the Phoenix, AZ Diocese
As reported in the 12/31/95 issue of the Arizona Republic, the bishop believes the Catholic Alliance is:

"carefully crafted to support directions in Congress that the Catholic bishops and Catholic Charities USA have opposed."

"Its agenda fails to do justice to the teaching of Pope John Paul II about the importance of protection of life at every stage and condition and about the preferential, but not exclusive, option for the poor."

"Organizations may title themselves Catholic, but that does not mean they reflect Catholic values adequately or that they are identified with the Catholic Church," he said.

O'Brien discouraged members of the diocese from turning to the Catholic Alliance for political information, saying that they "can get more helpful information from their parishes or from Catholic Social Service's Office of Peace and Justice than from the Catholic Alliance. "

Archbishop Cardinal Adam Maida of the Detroit, MI Archdiocese
In a document published on the Archdiocese's web site, the Cardinal's office stated:

"The position of the Archdiocese of Detroit on the Catholic Alliance of the Christian
Coalition is consistent with what has been stated in other American dioceses: "

"There is concern about this group - and others - who seek to mobilize Catholic people
and represent the so-called "Catholic position" without any word or communication or
consultation with the bishops' conference(s) or its representatives. The Michigan
Catholic Conference, headquartered in Lansing, is the public policy voice for the priests and peoples of the Archdiocese of Detroit . . "

"While the Catholic Church and the Christian Coalition (or other similar groups) find
agreement on issues such as abortion, euthanasia and pornography, we sharply disagree on issues such as welfare reform, capital punishment and health care reform."