Pope Francis most likely won’t intervene in any race for Rhode Island governor, but that’s not the impression you’d get from a new flyer supporting Democratic nominee Gina Raimondo.
“She is Church,” the flyer reads, employing an expression that is not common — in fact, rarely or never used at all — among Catholics.
Immediately below that strange phrase is a large image of Pope Francis, conveying the impression that His Holiness is a supporter. Also pictured is what appears to be a slapdash collage that includes a baby and several objects people commonly associate with Catholicism — a Rosary, a Bible or Missal and votive candles.
The flyer purportedly comes from a group called “Catholics for Gina,” but it does not appear to be a formal organization. Richard Thorton, director of campaign finance for the Rhode Island Board of Elections, informed the Washington Examiner that no such group is on file with his office.
The pro-Raimondo flyer goes on to list reasons for why the Democratic candidate “is Church”:
• Graduate of [La Salle] Academy.
• Baptized her children in the church.
• Strong female Catholic voice.
• Endorsed by fellow Catholic, [Democratic Rhode Island Senator] Jack Reed.
• Believes in Catholic values.
Raimondo’s churchy flyer is likely intended to blunt criticism of her support for abortion by Bishop Thomas Tobin and officials of the Diocese of Providence. La Salle Academy, the Roman Catholic preparatory school she attended, removed her portrait from its wall of notable alumni this year after she attended a Planned Parenthood fundraiser and offered a full-throated defense of a “woman’s right to choose.”
“The Catholic Church has a clear position and I have a clear position … I am clearly pro-choice,’’ Raimondo said after receiving the group’s endorsement.
La Salle spokesman Drew Lagace responded: “Her comments kind of go against our teachings here at La Salle.”
Raimondo has also pledged to overturn the state’s ban on partial-birth abortion, claiming in a statement that the ban is “unconstitutional.”
Bishop Tobin offered this response at the time:
Fifty-four percent of Rhode Islanders identify as Roman Catholic, according to Gallup, making it the most Catholic of any state in the union.
Raimondo currently leads her Republican challenger, Allan Fung, in the polls 40 to 36 percent, according to the RealClearPolitics weighted average.
