President Obama’s demand that religious-affiliated organizations offer health insurance that includes abortion, in violation of Catholic teaching and conscience, is unifying the Catholic vote in a way not seen since John F. Kennedy was elected president in 1960.
“More than ever, Catholics are really waking up,” said Ashley McGuire of the Catholic Association.
Her group is leading the awakening. Formed in 2007, it is recasting itself as the leading organizer and educator of Catholic lay people on the assault the church sees coming from the administration on issues of conscience like abortion and the health care mandate.
The rollout of the association’s new agenda at the Newseum Tuesday night includes an all-star list of supporters such as radio talk show host Laura Ingraham, former Republican Party chairman Jim Nicholson and Heritage Foundation President Ed Feulner. They will also have a screening of the new Andy Garcia-Eva Longoria movie “For Greater Glory,” which chronicles a rebellion against the Mexican government’s attempt to secularize the country.
McGuire agreed that Catholics generally don’t vote as a block. She added that Obama won Catholics and notably Catholic women in 2008. And according to a poll the Catholic Association commissioned found Catholics and Catholic women are deserting the president.
She blamed his birth control mandate on Catholic facilities as the main reason for the shift which is picking up speed. “The trend is towards more and more energy,” she said.
The rollout of the Catholic Association tonight is just the latest move by Catholics to raise the profile of their opposition to Obama. Last week, over 40 Catholic institutions, coordinated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, filed lawsuits challenging the president’s insurance mandate.
