AFFIRMATIVE ACTION DEBATE HEATS UP : MAHONY REJECTS PROP. 209, SAYING REMEDY IS WRONG.Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer Cardinal Roger Mahony His Eminence Roger Michael Cardinal Mahony (born February 27, 1936) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as the fourth Archbishop of Los Angeles, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1991. came out Tuesday against Proposition 209 on the Nov. 5 ballot, saying the plan to dismantle race and gender preferences in state and local government programs is contrary to the principles of the Catholic Church. Mahony said he believed the measure is based on wrong assumptions and fails to provide alternative policies to eradicate discrimination and bias. Also, he said the measure would weaken the commitment of government to fight discrimination. ``After prayerful prayer·ful adj. 1. Inclined or given to praying frequently; devout. 2. Typical or indicative of prayer, as a mannerism, gesture, or facial expression. study and reflection, I have concluded that, if implemented, Proposition 209 would go counter to the principles . . . and spirit of Catholic social thought,'' Mahony said in a pastoral statement. ``Affirmative action affirmative action, in the United States, programs to overcome the effects of past societal discrimination by allocating jobs and resources to members of specific groups, such as minorities and women. policies and programs are designed to open opportunities in the workplace, in educational institutions and in public contracting to qualified women and minority candidates,'' the cardinal said. Ward Connerly Wardell Connerly (born June 15, 1939) is a political activist, businessman, and former University of California Regent. He is also the founder and the chairman of the American Civil Rights Institute, a national non-profit organization in opposition to racial and gender preferences. , who is chairing the Yes on Proposition 209 campaign, said he believed Mahony misunderstood the measure and wished the cardinal had met with him to discuss the issue before taking a stand. ``While I do not believe that Cardinal Mahony's opposition will affect the broad support Proposition 209 enjoys, it is important to educate the public - and the cardinal - on the facts,'' Connerly said in a statement. ``Americans of all faiths - Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, Muslim, Buddhist, etc., - believe that government should treat everyone equally, without regard to race or sex,'' he said. Connerly agreed with Mahony that discrimination remains in society, but said the way to address that is through vigorous enforcement of anti-discrimination laws Anti-discrimination law refers to the law on people's right to be treated equally. Most developed countries mandate that in employment, in consumer transactions and in political participation people may be dealt with on an equal basis regardless of sex, race, ethnicity, . He also added a dig at Mahony: ``Considering the fact that the Catholic church does not allow women to be ordained or·dain tr.v. or·dained, or·dain·ing, or·dains 1. a. To invest with ministerial or priestly authority; confer holy orders on. b. To authorize as a rabbi. 2. , clearly there continues to be gender bias in society.'' Gov. Pete Wilson For others named Pete Wilson, see . Peter Barton Wilson (born August 23, 1933) is an American Republican politician from California. Wilson served as the thirty-sixth Governor of California (1991–1999), the culmination of more than three decades in the public arena that , who has been a strong backer of the measure, said through a spokesman that Mahony missed the point of the proposal. ``It's a sad testament that the cardinal wishes to perpetuate a system of racial discrimination that exists in our society,'' said spokesman Sean Walsh Sean Patrick Walsh is a producer on A Current Affair. He was previously a researcher on Today Tonight. He has also worked as a reporter for KMTR in Oregon, and as a News Assistant/Runner during the 2000 Summer Olympics for NBC Nightly News. . ``The racial injustice the California Civil Rights Initiative seeks to rectify is the quota system Quota System can refer to:
But Mahony said he believed the measure makes the wrongheaded assumption that society has gotten beyond race and gender bias. ``The rise in the number of hate crimes and the recent epidemic of church burnings are further evidence that the saga of racial injustice in this country is far from over,'' Mahony said. ``While these overt and flagrant fla·grant adj. 1. Conspicuously bad, offensive, or reprehensible: a flagrant miscarriage of justice; flagrant cases of wrongdoing at the highest levels of government. See Usage Note at blatant. 2. expressions of racism emanate em·a·nate intr. & tr.v. em·a·nat·ed, em·a·nat·ing, em·a·nates To come or send forth, as from a source: light that emanated from a lamp; a stove that emanated a steady heat. from a small sector of our population, these actions are, nonetheless, born out of the society for which we are all responsible. ``Legislation and policies - such as those which reflect the best of affirmative action programs - are the interim measures needed to ensure that certain social ills are contained. Proposition 209 would prohibit the proactive steps that have been implemented to curtail certain effects of injustice,'' he said. Mahony said affirmative action programs have had mixed success in creating opportunities, and wages for women and minorities continue to lag those of white men. ``The wholesale elimination of affirmative action programs - without the institution of alternative remedies - would mark a major setback to our nation's tenuous commitment to creating a discrimination-free society,'' Mahony said. Mahony's statement was issued on the day the pro-CCRI forces began a radio advertising campaign around the state. The commercial features Connerly arguing that the measure would restore equal treatment. ``. . . If equal treatment is the law, why is government so involved in giving preferences to some people - just because of their race or sex?'' Connerly asks in the spot. ``Race and sex discrimination are wrong, regardless of who's favored. Proposition 209 would prohibit discrimination and preferential treatment . . . in public employment, education and contracting.'' |
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