For Immediate Release: December 9, 1995

Members of the Massachusetts Catholic community today joined The Interfaith Alliance in issuing a strong warning to Catholics across the nation; be wary of the Catholic Alliance, the Christian Coalition's attempt aimed at pushing its extreme agenda under the guise of the Catholic Church. "There is nothing Catholic about the Catholic Alliance. Rather, it is a fraudulent group designed to increase the political power of Pat Robertson." stated Father Paul McLaughlin, Pastor of the Immaculate Conception Church in Marlborough, MA. He later declared, "Not in my state and absolutely not in my church."

Attempting to forge inroads in those communities where their extreme message of intolerance has been met with stiff resistance, the Christian Coalition recently announced the formation of the Catholic Alliance to deliver the same Christian Coalition message under a new name. The new subsidiary of Pat Robertson's political arm has set a goal of disseminating "Congressional Scorecards" to 40,000,000 Catholics through the nation's parishes. Ray Landry, a high school teacher in North Reading, MA and a practicing Catholic his entire life warned Catholics, "Don't be fooled by the 'Catholic' label: it is nothing more than false advertising designed to confuse unsuspecting Catholics." He summed up the mission of the Catholic Alliance as, "In short, the name of the game is power -- not values, not morals, not principles -- just raw political power."

Jill Hanauer, Executive Director of The Interfaith Alliance, a national mainstream faith-based organization established to provide a countervoice to the extreme religious right stated, "this is nothing more than a Catholic front group for Pat Robertson and his extreme brand of right-wing politics. Like its parent organization, it will use the symbols of faith as a weapon against political opponents, and try to use the authority of religion to push its own radical agenda."

Sister Pat Lambert of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston pointed out how much of the political agenda of the Christian Coalition is in direct contrast to the Catholic Church's social teaching. She stated that, "The Catholic Church opposes the Christian Coalition's views on the death penalty, health care and immigration. That is why the Christian Coalition does not represent the Catholic Church."

Sister Mary Carol Bennett of the Sisters of Mercy in Pittsburgh, PA joined these members of the Massachusetts Catholic community in their their initial efforts to organize a local chapter of The Interfaith Alliance. As the Co chair of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Interfaith Alliance, she welcomed their effort to join the national grassroots movement which now encompasses 16 states and over 20,000 members.

Father McLaughlin concluded the conference by noting that Massachusetts has so far averted the divisive political climate in which the Christian Coalition thrives. However, he issued a stern challenge to Massachusetts citizens and candidates to "resist the temptation to give in to the politics of deceit and division practiced by groups like Pat Robertson's Christian Coalition. Do not pander to their political demands and do not fall prey to their political tricks."