"Catholics for Free Choice" condemned.

Washington--In last December's issue of Catholic Insight, we reported that Kathleen Howes, a Canadian member of Catholics for Free Choice, had criticised the Toronto Catholic School Board for stopping the collection of money for UNICEF and transferring its support to the pro-life group Aid to Women. We noted that UNICEF "is deeply involved in pro-death, anti-women, anti-people policies disguised under the euphemism 'reproductive rights.'"

At the time, Howes received wide publicity, with the result that Aid to Women lost its appeal in the Dufferin-Peel Catholic Board region and was barely able to hang on to its place in the Toronto Metro Catholic Board. Such are the results of the vicious activity of the so-called Catholics for Free Choice.

The U.S. bishops condemned CFFC on May 10 for promoting abortion, and stated that the group could not be considered "Catholic." It is little more than a front for the abortion industry, they say.

The American statement of condemnation repeated generally what Catholic Insight had said in December. The president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in the U.S., Bishop Joseph Fiorenza of Galveston, Texas, issued the statement, which was published in Osservatore Romano on May 17.

For a number of years, he said, CFFC has been publicly supporting abortion while claiming to speak as an authentic Catholic voice. On a number of occasions, the Catholic bishops have pointed out that it is not a Catholic organization, does not speak for the Church, and in fact promotes positions contrary to the Church's teaching. It is an advocacy group dedicated to supporting abortion, and it is funded by a number of powerful foundations to promote abortion as a method of population control.

In its recent attempt to silence the voice of the Vatican at the United Nations, the bishop continued, "it has ridiculed the Holy See in language reminiscent of other episodes of anti-Catholic bigotry that the Catholic Church has endured in the past." Its use of the name 'Catholic' is offensive not only to Catholics but to all who expect honesty and forthrightness in public discourse.

With the strongest emphasis, Bishop Fiorenza reiterated what has previously been said about Catholics for Free Choice: that it merits no recognition or support as a Catholic organization.

Canadians

Canadians should be aware that Toronto school teacher Joanna Manning supports CFFC. Her attack on the Vatican asking hat the Holy See be removed from the U.N. may be found on the website of the Women's Inter Church Council, the same organization through which the CWL is supporting the March of Women. The Globe and Mail of June 5 gave Manning a half-page spread, just for good measure.

Also on May 31, the CBC Toronto radio show 'Metro Morning' gave 1012 minutes air time to Kathleen Howes to explain her position on why the Vatican should lose its seat at the U.N. She said it was a privilege not granted to any other religion.

Both Manning and Howes are flailing in the wind because over two thousand NGO's and other organizations have petitioned the U.N. to ignore these babblings. Nevertheless, they find a ready acception among those hostile to the Church.