Kerry Wrong for Catholics.com -- CATHOLIC ISSUES OVERVIEW by the RNC

Kerry Voted Against Marriage Penalty Relief At Least 22 Times. (S. Con. Res. 13, CQ Vote # 178: Rejected 31-69: R 31-23; D 0-46, 5/23/95, Kerry Voted Nay; S. 1357, CQ Vote #552: Motion Agreed To 53-46: R 50-3; D 3-43, 10/27/95, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 2491, CQ Vote #556: Passed 52-47: R 52-1; D 0-46, 10/28/95, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 2491, CQ Vote #584: Motion Agreed To 52-47: R 52-1; D 0-46, 11/18/95, Kerry Voted Nay; S. 1415, CQ Vote #154: Rejected 48-50: R 5-49; D 43-1, 6/10/98, Kerry Voted Yea; S. 2312, CQ Vote #242: Motion Rejected 48-51: R 4-50; D 44-1, 7/29/98, Kerry Voted Yea; S. 1429, CQ Vote #230: Rejected 46-54: R 45-9; D 0-45; I 1-0, 7/29/99, Kerry Voted Nay; S. 1429 CQ Vote #247: Passed 57-43: R 52-2; D 4-41; I 1-0, 7/30/99, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 2488, CQ Vote #261: Adopted 50-49: R 49-4; D 0-45; I 1-0, 8/5/99, Kerry Voted Nay; S. Con. Res. 101, CQ Vote #68: Rejected 44-56: R 5-50; D 39-6, 4/7/00, Kerry Voted Yea; H. Con. Res. 290, CQ Vote #79: Adopted 51-45: R 51-2; D 0-43, 4/7/00, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 6, CQ Vote #82: Rejected 53-45: R 53-1; D 0-44, 4/13/00, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 6, CQ Vote #83: Rejected 53-45: R 53-1; D 0-44, 4/13/00, Kerry Voted Nay; H. Con. Res. 290, CQ Vote #85: Adopted 50-48: R 50-4; D 0-44, 4/13/00, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R.4810, CQ Vote #213: Rejected 20-79: R 1-53; D 19-26, 7/18/00, Kerry Voted Yea; H.R. 4810, CQ Vote #214: Adopted 54-45: R 54-0; D 0-45, 7/18/00, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 4810, CQ Vote #215: Passed 61-38: R 53-1; D 8-37, 7/18/00, Kerry Voted Nay; H. Con. Res. 83, CQ Vote #79: Adopted 50-50: R 49-1; D 1-49, With Vice President Cheney Casting A "Yea" Vote, 4/5/01, Kerry Voted Nay; H. Con. Res. 83, CQ Vote #86: Adopted 65-35: R 50-0; D 15-35, 4/6/01, Kerry Voted Nay; H. Con. Res. 83, CQ Vote #98: Adopted 53-47: R 48-2; D 5-45, 5/10/01, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 1836, CQ Vote #165: Passed 62-38: R 50-0; D 12-38, 5/23/01, Kerry Voted Nay; S. Con. Res. 95, CQ Vote #36: Rejected 47-52: R 1-50; D 45-2; I 1-0, 3/10/04, Kerry Voted Yea)

Kerry Voted Against Expanding Child Tax Credit At Least 18 Times. (S. Con. Res. 95, CQ Vote #36: Rejected 47-52: R 1-50; D 45-2; I 1-0, 3/10/04, Kerry Voted Yea; S. Con. Res. 23, CQ Vote #108: Adopted 56-44: R 50-1; D 6-42; I 0-1, 3/26/03, Kerry Voted Nay; H. Con. Res. 95, CQ Vote #134: Adopted 51-50: R 49-2; D 1-47; D 0-1, With Vice President Cheney Casting A "Yea" Vote, 4/11/03, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 2, CQ Vote #196: Adopted 51-50: R 48-3; D 2-46; I 0-1, With Vice President Cheney Casting A "Yea" Vote, 5/23/03, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 2, CQ Vote #179: Passed 51-49: R 48-3; D 3-45; I 0-1, 5/15/03, Kerry Voted Nay; S. Con. Res. 23, CQ Vote #106: Rejected 48-52: R 47-4; D 1-47; I 0-1, 3/26/03, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 1836, CQ Vote #165: Passed 62-38: R 50-0; D 12-38, 5/23/01, Kerry Voted Nay; H. Con. Res. 83, CQ Vote #86: Adopted 65-35: R 50-0; D 15-35, 4/6/01, Kerry Voted Nay; H. Con. Res. 83, CQ Vote #98: Adopted 53-47: R 48-2; D 5-45, 5/10/01, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 2014, CQ Vote #160: Passed 80-18: R 51-4; D 29-14, 6/27/97, Kerry Voted Nay; S. Con. Res. 57, CQ Vote #151: Motion Agreed To 57-43: R 50-3; D 7-40, 5/23/96, Kerry Voted Nay; H. Con Res. 178, CQ Vote #159: Adopted 53-46: R 53-0; D 0-46, 6/13/96, Kerry Voted Nay; S. Con. Res. 13, CQ Vote #178, Rejected 31-69: R 31-23; D 0-46, 5/23/95, Kerry Voted Nay; H. Con. Res. 67, CQ Vote #296: Adopted 54-46: R 54-0; D 0-46, 6/29/95, Kerry Voted Nay; S. 1357, CQ Vote #552: Motion Agreed To 53-46: R 50-3; D 3-43, 10/27/95, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 2491, CQ Vote #556: Passed 52-47: R 52-1; D 0-46, 10/28/95, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 2491, CQ Vote #584: Motion Agreed To 52-47: R 52-1; D 0-46, 11/18/95, Kerry Voted Nay; S. Con. Res. 63, CQ Vote #66: Rejected 42-58: R 42-2; D 0-56, 3/23/94, Kerry Voted Nay)

Kerry Voted Against Expanding Adoption Tax Credit At Least Seven Times. (H.R. 11, CQ Vote #243: Motion Agreed To 46-30: R 1-30; D 45-0, 9/26/92, Kerry Voted Yea; H.R. 2491, CQ Vote #584: Motion Agreed To 52-47: R 52-1; D 0-46, 11/18/95, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 2491, CQ Vote #556: Passed 52-47: R 52-1; D 0-46, 10/28/95, Kerry Voted Nay; S. 1357, CQ Vote #552: Motion Agreed To 53-46: R 50-3; D 3-43, 10/27/95, Kerry Voted Nay; H. Con. Res. 83, CQ Vote #86: Adopted 65-35: R 50-0; D 15-35, 4/6/01, Kerry Voted Nay; H. Con. Res. 83, CQ Vote #98: Adopted 53-47: R 48-2; D 5-45, 5/10/01, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 1836, CQ Vote #165: Passed 62-38: R 50-0; D 12-38, 5/23/01, Kerry Voted Nay)

In 1984, Kerry Said He Would Vote Against "Any Restrictions On Age, Consent, Funding Restrictions, Or Any Law To Limit Access To Abortion." (John Kerry As Quoted In "Mass. Senate Candidates Quizzed On Women’s Issues," Sojourner: The Women’s Forum, 6/30/84)

Kerry Received 0% Ranking From National Right To Life Committee For 108th, 107th And 106th Congresses, And 7% Ranking For 105th Congress. (National Right To Life Committee Website, www.nrlc.org, Accessed 1/22/04)

Kerry Is First Presidential Candidate To Ever Be Endorsed By Planned Parenthood Action Fund. "The Planned Parenthood Action Fund endorsed Mr. Kerry yesterday, the first time it has endorsed a presidential candidate. Its leaders said the election was crucial to preserving access to abortion." (Laurie Goodstein, "Vatican Cardinal Signals Backing For Sanctions On Kerry," The New York Times, 4/24/04)

Kerry Says He Personally Believes Life Begins At Conception, But "Article Of Faith" Should Not Translate Into Public Policy. "I am Catholic and have personally always believed life begins at conception, but I have never believed that that is something that should be translated as a matter of faith, an article of faith, into everybody else’s behavior for those who don’t share that faith ..." (Sen. John Kerry, Campaign Event, Des Moines, IA, 1/9/04)

Kerry Said He Would Ignore 11th Encyclical Of Pope John Paul II, Which Warned Legislators Of Their Moral Accountability If They Support Abortion. "Four Bay State lawmakers said yesterday they will ignore the most recent papal encyclical opposing abortion laws, despite their Roman Catholic faith. U.S. Sens. Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry, both Democrats, and U.S. Rep. Peter G. Torkildsen (R-Danvers) and Martin T. Meehan (D-Lowell) said they cannot heed the Vatican’s warning that legislators bear more moral responsibility for supporting abortion laws than women who undergo the procedure. ... In the almost 200-page encyclical, called ‘The Gospel of Life,’ John Paul II restated his opposition to abortion as ‘a grave moral disorder.’ In a clear message to legislators, the Pope dismissed claims of politicians who profess personal opposition to abortion while voting in favor of pro-choice laws." (Connie Page, "Vatican Targets Lawmakers On Abortion," Boston Herald, 3/31/95)

Kerry Claimed Most Catholics Support Roe, And Blames Bishops For Catholics’ Lack Of Adherence To Faith. "John Kerry said he had to ‘represent all the people in my state,’ including Jews and Buddhists. Then the senator repeated what former House Speaker Tip O’Neill apparently once said in front of several thousand priests and several thousand nuns, that 68 percent of them ‘support Roe v. Wade.’ ‘If the bishops can’t do and won’t say anything about that, don’t come to me. You know what I’m saying?’ said Kerry." (Tom Bethell, "It’s The Bishops’ Problem," The American Spectator, June-July 2003)

Kerry Says That While He Believes "Life Begins" At Conception, "That’s Not A Person Yet." ABC’s PETER JENNINGS: "You told an Iowa newspaper recently that life begins at conception. What makes you think that?" SEN. JOHN KERRY: "My personal belief about what happens in the fertilization process is a human being is first formed and created, and that’s when life begins. Something begins to happen. There’s a transformation. There’s an evolution. Within weeks, you look and see the development of it, but that’s not a person yet, and it’s certainly not what somebody, in my judgment, ought to have the government of the United States intervening in. Roe v. Wade has made it very clear what our standard is with respect to viability, what our standard is with respect to rights. I believe in the right to choose, not the government choosing, but an individual, and I defend that." (ABC News Website, "One-On-One," <http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/us/kerry_interview_040722.html>, 7/22/04)

Kerry Claims His Belief That Life Begins At Conception Does Not Make Abortion Tantamount To Murder Because "It’s Not The Form Of Life That Takes Personhood ..." ABC’s PETER JENNINGS: "Could you explain again to me what do you mean when you say ‘life begins at conception’?" SEN. JOHN KERRY: "Well, that’s what the Supreme Court has established is a test of viability as to whether or not you’re permitted to terminate a pregnancy, and I support that. That is my test. And I, you know, you have all kinds of different evolutions of life, as we know, and very different beliefs about birth, the process of the development of a fetus. That’s the standard that’s been established in Roe v. Wade. And I adhere to that standard." JENNINGS: "If you believe that life begins at conception, is even a first-trimester abortion not murder?" KERRY: "No, because it’s not the form of life that takes personhood in the terms that we have judged it to be in the past. It’s the beginning of life. Does life begin? Yes, it begins. Is it at the point where I would say that you apply those penalties? The answer is, no, and I believe in choice. I believe in the right to choose, and the government should not involve itself in that choice, beyond where it has in the context of Roe v. Wade." (ABC News Website, "One-On-One," <http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/us/kerry_interview_040722.html>, 7/22/04)

Kerry Says His Statement About Life Beginning At Conception Is "Consistent" With His "Personal Belief System About Who Chooses And What Happens." ABC’s PETER JENNINGS: "If I were really skeptical, Senator, I would say that when you use the phrase ‘life begins at conception,’ you’re attempting to speak to those people for whom that is a slogan, making them totally opposed to abortion." SEN. JOHN KERRY: "Not in the least. It’s a belief that is a belief of mine. It’s consistent with everything I’ve always said over 35 years of public life. It is not a new statement, but it is consistent with my personal belief system about who chooses and what happens." (ABC News Website, "One-On-One," <http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/us/kerry_interview_040722.html>, 7/22/04)

Kerry Voted Against Unborn Victims Of Violence Act. (H.R. 1997, CQ Vote #63: Passed 61-38: R 48-2; D 13-35; I 0-1, 3/25/04, Kerry Voted Nay)

Kerry Says Supporting Embryonic Stem Cell Research Is "Entirely Within Ethical Bounds" And Doesn’t Violate "One’s Beliefs At All About What Life Is Or Where It Is And What Matters." "On Monday, Mr. Kerry restated the point, speaking to reporters in Arizona. ‘It is entirely within ethical bounds to do embryonic stem cell research without violating one’s beliefs at all about what life is or where it is and what matters,’ he said. ‘I think you have to measure it also against the lives you save, against the diseases that you’re curing. Life is important to us, and I think if we can cure Alzheimer’s, if we can cure AIDS, if we can cure diabetes, if we can save millions of lives by doing research on something that may be destroyed anyway, that the balance is important.’" (Randy Kennedy, "First Lady Defends Limits On Stem Cell Research," The New York Times, 8/10/04)

Kerry Has Voted At Least Six Times Against Banning Partial-Birth Abortion. (H.R. 1833, CQ Vote #596: Passed 54-44: R 45-8; D 9-36; I 0-0, 12/7/95, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 1833, CQ Vote #301: Motion Rejected 57-41: R 45-6; D 12-35; I 0-0, 9/26/96, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 1122, CQ Vote #71: Passed 64-36: R 51-4; D 13-32, 5/20/97, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 1122, CQ Vote #277: Rejected 64-36: R 51-4; D 13-32, 9/18/98, Kerry Voted Nay; S. 1692, CQ Vote #340: Passed 63-34: R 48-3; D 14-31, I 1-0, 10/21/99, Kerry Voted Nay; S. 3, CQ Vote #402: Agreed To 64-34: R 47-3; D 17-30; I 0-1, 10/21/03, Kerry Voted Nay)

Kerry Says, "There Is No Such Thing As A Partial Birth." "Just hours after President Bush signed a law banning what critics of the procedure call ‘partial-birth abortion,’ Senator John F. Kerry declared last night ‘there is no such thing as a partial birth,’ as he and the other Democratic presidential contenders sought the political support of women voters. ... ‘It is a late-term abortion. They have done a very effective job of giving people a sense of fear about it. It’s part of their assault on the rights of women in America. ... There’s nothing partial about their effort to undo Roe v. Wade.’" (Glen Johnson, "Kerry Hits Ban On Abortion Procedure," The Boston Globe, 11/6/03)

Kerry Voted To Allow Federal Money To Be Used To Distribute Morning-After Abortion Pill In America’s Schools. (H.R. 4577, CQ Vote #169: Motion Rejected 41-54: R 6-48; D 35-6, 6/30/00, Kerry Voted Yea)

Kerry Has Voted At Least 25 Times In Favor Of Using Taxpayer Dollars To Pay For Abortions In United States. (H.R. 2965, CQ Vote #255: Motion Rejected 46-46: R 17-31; D 29-15, 10/24/85, Kerry Voted Yea; H.R. 2965, CQ Vote #274: Motion Rejected 47-48: R 35-17; D 12-31, 11/1/85, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 5175, CQ Vote #263: Adopted 48-42: R 16-33; D 32-9, 9/16/86, Kerry Voted Yea; H.R. 2713, CQ Vote #289: Motion Agreed To 60-39: R 16-30; D 44-9, 9/30/87, Kerry Voted Yea; H.R. 4776, CQ Vote #232: Motion Agreed To 49-37: R 16-25; D 33-12, 7/7/88, Kerry Voted Yea; H.R. 4776, CQ Vote #233: Motion Agreed To 51-34: R 16-24; D 35-10, 7/7/88, Kerry Voted Yea; H.R. 4783, CQ Vote #268: Adopted 73-19: R 39-5; D 34-14, 7/27/88, Kerry Voted Yea; H.R. 4776, CQ Vote #348: Motion Agreed To 45-44: R 31-10; D 14-34, 9/30/88, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 4404, CQ Vote #68: Ruling Of The Chair Rejected 45-51: R 34-10; D 11-41, 4/27/90, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 4404, CQ Vote #69: Ruled Germane 54-42: R 12-32; D 42-10, 4/27/90, Kerry Voted Yea; S. 110, CQ Vote #252: Adopted 62-36: R 16-27; D 46-9, 9/25/90, Kerry Voted Yea; S. 322, CQ Vote #254: Passed 73-26: R 20-23; D 53-3, 10/1/92, Kerry Voted Yea; H.R. 2403, CQ #235: Ruled Not Germane 48-51: R 36-7; D 12-44, 8/3/93, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 2518, CQ Vote #290: Rejected 40-59: R 6-38; D 34-21, 9/28/93, Kerry Voted Yea; H.R. 2020, CQ Vote #369: Adopted 52-41: R 15-35; D 37-6, 8/5/95, Kerry Voted Yea; H.R. 2020, CQ Vote #370: Adopted 50-44: R 40-10; D 10-34, 8/7/95, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 2020, CQ Vote #371: Rejected 45-49: R 9-41; D 36-8, 8/7/95, Kerry Voted Yea; H.R. 2076, CQ Vote #478: Motion Agreed To 52-44: R 43-9; D 9-35, 9/29/95, Kerry Voted Nay; S. 1357, CQ Vote #539: Motion Rejected 55-44: R 46-7; D 9-37, 10/27/95, Kerry Voted Nay; S. 1357, CQ Vote #542: Motion Agreed To 56-43: R 46-7; D 10-36, 10/27/95, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 3019, CQ Vote #38: Rejected 45-55: R 6-47; D 39-8, 3/19/96, Kerry Voted Yea; H.R. 3756, CQ Vote #284: Motion Agreed To 53-45: R 43-9; D 10-36, 9/11/96, Kerry Voted Nay; S. 947, CQ Vote #129: Rejected 39-61: R 5-50; D 34-11, 6/25/97, Kerry Voted Yea; S. 1023, CQ Vote #190: Adopted 54-45: R 48-7; D 6-38, 7/22/97, Kerry Voted Nay; S. 1282, CQ Vote #197: Motion Rejected 47-51: R 7-46; D 40-5, 7/1/99, Kerry Voted Yea)

Kerry Has Voted At Least Three Times Against Requiring Parental Notification For Minor’s Abortion. (H.R. 5257, CQ Vote #266: Motion Rejected 48-48: R 8-34; D 40-14, 10/12/90, Kerry Voted Yea; S. 323, CQ Vote #131, Adopted 52-47: R 38-5; D 14-42, 7/16/91, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 2707, CQ Vote #185: Rejected 45-55: R 31-12; D 14-43, 9/11/91, Kerry Voted Nay)

Kerry Led The Fight Against President Bush’s Department Of Homeland Security. (H.R. 5005, CQ Vote #218: Motion Rejected 50-49: R 0-48; D 49-1; I 1-0, 9/19/02, Kerry Voted Yea; H.R. 5005, CQ Vote #225: Motion Rejected 49-49: R 1-47; D 47-2; I 1-0, 9/25/02, Kerry Voted Yea; H.R. 5005, CQ Vote #226: Motion Rejected 50-49: R 1-48; D 48-1; I 1-0, 9/26/02, Kerry Voted Yea; H.R. 5005, CQ Vote #227: Motion Rejected 44-53: R 1-46; D 42-7; I 1-0, 9/26/02, Kerry Voted Yea; H.R. 5005, CQ Vote #228: Motion Rejected 45-52: R 2-46; D 42-6; I 1-0, 10/1/02, Kerry Voted Yea; H.R. 5005, CQ Vote #241: Motion Agreed To 50-47: R 48-0; D 1-46; I 1-1, 11/13/02, Kerry Voted Nay)

Senate Democrats Stalled Homeland Security For 112 Days. (H.R. 5005, Received In The Senate 7/30/02; H.R. 5005, CQ Vote #249: Passed 90-9: R 48-0; D 41-8; I 1-1, 11/19/02, Kerry Voted Yea)

In 1985, Kerry Expressed "Grave Concern" About White House Decision To Withhold Millions From International Planned Parenthood Federation. "I joined 16 of my colleagues in the senate in sending a letter to the White House expressing our grave concern about the recent decision not to provide the International Planned Parenthood Federation [IPPF] with 17 million dollars’ worth of population assistance appropriated in the fiscal year 1985 budget. This action is especially distressing because it comes at a time when several underdeveloped nations in Africa are experiencing famine. First, we are told that IPPF funds are withheld, and now we learn that the U.S. Agency for International Development is holding up money for family planning that might limit the number of babies born into desperate poverty, by not yet providing to the United Nations Fund For Population Activities [UNFPA] the funds appropriated for it." (Sen. John Kerry [D-MA], Congressional Record, 2/6/85, p. S1213)

Kerry "Called On The Catholic Church To ‘Not Be A Barrier’ To Birth Control Worldwide ..." (Anthony Flint, "US Plans Key Role On Population," The Boston Globe, 3/5/94)

In Opposition To President Bush’s Reinstatement Of Mexico City Policy In 2001, Kerry Said "International Family Planning Programs Are In America’s Best Interests." "President George W. Bush, despite his inaugural pleas for unity, yesterday plunged into one of the nation’s most bitterly divisive fights, banning federal funds for groups providing abortion counseling overseas. ... Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), a strong abortion rights supporter, said Bush’s ban will have severe health consequences across the globe. ‘I will not back away from my conviction that international family planning programs are in America’s best interests,’ Kerry said. ‘We should resist pressures in this country for heavy-handed Washington mandates that ignore basic choices that should belong to free people around the globe.’" (Andrew Miga and Laurel J. Sweet, "Bush Move Sparks Abortion Firestorm," Boston Herald, 1/23/01)

Kerry Says Reversing Mexico City Policy Would Be His First Executive Order. LARRY KING: "What would be the first executive order?" KERRY: "Reverse the Mexico City policy on the gag rule so that we take a responsible position globally on family planning." (CNN/Los Angeles Times, Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Los Angeles, CA, 2/26/04)

In 2003, Kerry Voiced His Support For "Population Control Efforts Around The World." "[I] think that tonight we have to make it clear that we are not going to turn back the clock. There is no overturning of Roe v. Wade. There is no packing of the courts with judges who will be hostile to choice. There is no denial of choice to poor women in the United States. There is no outlawing of a procedure necessary to save a woman’s life or health and there are no more cutbacks on population control efforts around the world. We need to take on this President and all of the forces of intolerance on this issue. We need to honestly and confidently and candidly take this issue out to the country and we need to speak up and be proud of what we stand for." (Sen. John Kerry [D-MA], Remarks At NARAL Pro-Choice America Dinner, 1/21/03)

Kerry Stated He Would Only Support Nominees Who Pledge To Uphold Roe V. Wade. "The potential retirement of Supreme Court justices makes the 2004 presidential election especially important for women, Senator John F. Kerry told a group of female Democrats yesterday, and he pledged that if elected president he would nominate to the high court only supporters of abortion rights under its Roe v. Wade decision. ... ‘Any president ought to appoint people to the Supreme Court who understand the Constitution and its interpretation by the Supreme Court. In my judgment, it is and has been settled law that women, Americans, have a defined right of privacy and that the government does not make the decision with respect to choice. Individuals do.’" (Glen Johnson, "Kerry Vows Court Picks To Be Abortion-Rights Supporters," The Boston Globe, 4/9/03)

Kerry Said He Would Filibuster Any Pro-Life Supreme Court Nominee. "The Supreme Court hangs in the balance and the next justices will determine whether we move forward or backward. Therefore, I will filibuster any Supreme Court nominee who would turn back the clock on the right to choose, on civil rights and individual liberties, on the laws protecting workers and the environment." (Sen. John Kerry, A Call To Service, 2003, p. 182)

In 1998, Kerry Voted Against Invoking Cloture To Human Cloning Prohibition Act. (S. 1601, Roll Call Vote #10: Motion Rejected 42-54: R 42-12; D 0-42, 2/11/98, Kerry Voted Nay)

Kerry Supports So-Called "Therapeutic" Cloning. "While I oppose cloning for the purposes of creating a human being, I do support therapeutic cloning that has the potential to help cure many diseases." (Sen. John Kerry As Quoted In "Q&A: The Democratic Candidates On Higher Education," The Chronicle of Higher Education, 1/23/04)

In 1996, Kerry Said He Could Support Assisted Suicide Under "Extreme Circumstances." "On assisted suicide, Kerry said he could support it under extreme circumstances, as long as the patient, doctor and family agreed ‘death might be appropriate.’" (Matt Devine, "Candidates Tone Down Attacks In Fourth Debate," The Patriot Ledger, 8/20/96)

In 1999, Kerry Said He ‘Personally Opposes’ Euthanasia, But "Medical Professionals" Should "Work With Patients To Make Decisions" About Drugs. "Both Massachusetts senators said they oppose physician-assisted suicide, but have reservations about sanctioning a government role in the decision. ‘I personally oppose euthanasia, but I think it's doctors and medical professionals who need to work with patients to make decisions about the use of drugs,’ Senator John F. Kerry said." (Anne E. Kornblut, "Ban On Prescribing Drugs For Suicide Gets House OK," The Boston Globe, 10/28/99)

Kerry Was One Of Only 14 Senators To Vote Against 1996 Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA), Which Banned Federal Recognition Of Gay Marriage And Same-Sex Partner Benefits. (H.R. 3396, CQ Vote #280: Passed 85-14: R 53-0; D 32-14, 9/10/96, Kerry Voted Nay)

Kerry Praised Massachusetts Civil Unions Ruling, Saying It Called On MA Legislature To "Ensure Equal Protection For Gay Couples." "I have long believed that gay men and lesbians should be assured equal protection and the same benefits - from health to survivor benefits to hospital visitation - that all families deserve. While I continue to oppose gay marriage, I believe that today’s decision calls on the Massachusetts state legislature to take action to ensure equal protection for gay couples. These protections are long over due." (John Kerry For President, "Statement From John Kerry On Massachusetts Gay Marriage Ruling," Press Release, 11/18/03)

Kerry Supports "Access To Pensions, Health Insurance, Family Medical Leave, Bereavement Leave, Hospital Visitation, Survivor Benefits, And Other Basic Legal Protections" For Same-Sex Couples. "John Kerry believes that same-sex couples should be granted rights, including access to pensions, health insurance, family medical leave, bereavement leave, hospital visitation, survivor benefits, and other basic legal protections that all families and children need. He has supported legislation to provide domestic partners of federal employees the benefits available to spouses of federal employees." (John Kerry For President Website, "A Record Of Working On Behalf Of Gay And Lesbian Americans," www.johnkerry.com, Accessed 1/27/04)

Kerry Said Vatican Should Not Instruct Catholic Politicians, Calling It "Inappropriate." "The Vatican’s call for Catholic politicians to fight gay marriage is an ‘inappropriate’ violation of the separation of church and state in America, U.S. Sen. John Kerry said Friday. ‘I believe in the church and I care about it enormously,’ said the Democrat from Massachusetts, a Catholic who is running for president. ‘But I think that it’s important to not have the church instructing politicians. That is an inappropriate crossing of the line in America.’ Kerry’s comments came a day after the Vatican announced a campaign against gay marriages and gay adoptions, stating that Catholic politicians have a ‘moral duty’ to oppose laws granting legal rights to gay couples. Kerry opposes gay marriage, but has said he supports civil unions, such as those allowed in Vermont, which grant gay couples most of the rights and benefits of marriage." ("Kerry Scolds Catholic Church For Pressuring Lawmakers," The Associated Press, 8/1/03)

Kerry Expressed "Moral Outrage" With Vatican’s Statement On Gay Marriage. "[Kerry] said political concerns are secondary to his moral outrage over Thursday’s Vatican statement on gay marriage. ‘Our founding fathers separated church and state in America. It is an important separation,’ he said. ‘It is part of what makes America different and special, and we need to honor that as we go forward and I’m going to fight to do that.’ Catholics were stunned at the broadside from Kerry, saying he’s sure to draw the ire of some 65 million voting Catholics." (David R. Guarino, "Kerry Raps Pope," The Boston Herald, 8/2/03)

In 1996, Kerry Voted Four Times Against Giving Low-Income D.C. Children School Choice Option. (H.R. 2546, CQ Vote #20: Rejected 54-44: R 50-2; D 4-42, 2/27/96, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 2546, CQ Vote #21: Rejected 52-42: R 48-1; D 4-41, 2/29/96, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 2546, CQ Vote #23: Rejected 53-43: R 49-2; D 4-41, 3/5/96, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 2546, CQ Vote #25: Rejected 56-44: R 51-2; D 5-42, 3/12/96, Kerry Voted Nay)

In 2003, Kerry Said Voucher Program Should Not Be A Moral Argument, And That School Choice Would Abandon Students Left In Public Schools. "[W]e have to guarantee that vouchers are not made into an argument that somehow there’s a morality in taking care of kids, 50 of them, and abandoning 4,000 in the school behind them. I refuse to accept that." (Sen. John Kerry, Congressional Black Caucus Institute Debate, 9/9/03)

Last November, Kerry Said Vouchers Would "Destroy Inner City Schools" And Leave "Even More Children Behind." "We need a President who will tell the truth about vouchers - that they weaken public education, make it harder to build good citizens, and hurt those most in need. Don’t cry crocodile tears for inner city kids while trying in effect to destroy inner city schools. Vouchers aren’t choice; they’re a bad choice that would leave even more children behind." (Sen. John Kerry, Remarks In Council Bluffs, IA, 11/25/03)

As President, Kerry Would Veto "Vouchers Or Voucher-Like Programs." "[Vouchers] don’t reform our public schools - they run away from them. ... I have never supported vouchers. I will never support them. And if it ever comes to my desk, I’ll veto vouchers or voucher-like programs the day that bill arrives." (Sen. John Kerry, Remarks In Council Bluffs, IA, 11/25/03)

Kerry: "I Am Saying That I Don’t Believe We Should Raise Religion As A Matter Of Political Strategy. That’s What I’m Saying." (Sen. Kerry, CNBC’s "Capital Report," 1/8/04)

Kerry Used Scripture To Criticize "Our Present National Leadership." "John Kerry cited a Bible verse Sunday to criticize leaders who have ‘faith but has no deeds,’ prompting President Bush’s spokesman to accuse Kerry of exploiting Scripture for a political attack. Kerry never mentioned Bush by name during his speech at New North Side Baptist Church, but aimed his criticism at ‘our present national leadership.’ Kerry cited Scripture in his appeal for the worshippers, including James 2:14, ‘What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?’ ‘The Scriptures say, what does it profit, my brother, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?’ Kerry said. ‘When we look at what is happening in America today, where are the works of compassion?’" (Nedra Pickler, "Bush Campaign Blasts Kerry’s Bible Quote," The Associated Press, 3/28/04)

Time: "Kerry Has At Times Put A Pious Cast On His Own Rhetoric." "Polls consistently show that Americans prefer their leaders to be religious, and in running to unseat the most openly devout President in recent years, Kerry has at times put a pious cast on his own rhetoric. In a speech at a Mississippi church on March 7, he said Bush does not practice the ‘compassionate conservatism’ he preaches, and quoted James 2:14, ‘What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?’" (Karen Tumulty and Perry Bacon Jr., "A Test Of Kerry’s Faith," Time, 4/5/04)

Kerry Took Communion At Non-Catholic Church. "Photo ops are the saving grace of many political campaigns, but Bay State Sen. John F. Kerry gaffed one recent opportunity - flouting Catholic doctrine by taking communion at a non-Catholic church. The Democratic presidential candidate invited the press to services at the AME Charles Street Church in Roxbury Sunday. But the photos showed Kerry taking communion. That, Catholics say, is a catechism no-no. ‘Catholics should not receive communion in a Protestant church,’ said Sister Mary Ann Walsh of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. ‘It’s standard church teaching.’" (David R. Guarino, "Thou Shalt Not Flub Thy Photo Op, Sen. Kerry," Boston Herald, 4/7/04)

In 1996, Kerry Complained About Senators Voting Against Their Professed Religious Ideals. "Sen. John F. Kerry, speaking at a Roxbury church, complained yesterday that some of his fellow senators profess Christian beliefs while voting in ways that contradict those ideals. Addressing the congregation of the Twelfth Baptist Church, Kerry said he often feels torn at Senate prayer breakfasts as he meets colleagues who seem to lack compassion in public life. ‘To be candid, I struggle when I sit next to someone who says they’re born again, but votes against child care, votes to cut 12- to 18-year-old kids off Medicaid,’ Kerry said." (Michael Grunwald, "Kerry Tells Congregation Votes Should Match Faith," The Boston Globe, 10/21/96)

And Called On Politicians To Run Their Life "In A Christian Way." "After a few remarks about the apostle Paul, Kerry decried the ‘difference between the rhetoric and the reality’ in politics, urging politicians, ‘Run your life in a Christian way.’" (Michael Grunwald, "Kerry Tells Congregation Votes Should Match Faith," The Boston Globe, 10/21/96)

Now Kerry Defends Positions At Odds With His Church. "Kerry is Roman Catholic, but his support for abortion rights is at odds with Vatican teachings. ‘I don’t tell church officials what to do, and church officials shouldn’t tell American politicians what to do in the context of our public life,’ Kerry said ..." (Nedra Pickler, "Bush Campaign Blasts Kerry’s Bible Quote," The Associated Press, 3/28/04)

Says He Shares Catholic Church’s Anti-Abortion Views, But Says Public Officials Shouldn’t Impose Views On Others. "On abortion, Kerry said that he - as a Catholic - does share his church’s anti-abortion views ‘as an article of faith.’ But as a public official, he said he didn’t believe he had the right to impose such views on others." (Jo Mannies, "Candidates: Bush Must Go," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 1/29/04)

Analyst cites abortion stance as some Catholic voters shift to Bush

By Patricia Zapor
Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Not only are the candidates for president focusing their attention on a handful of "battleground" states, President George W. Bush and Sen. John Kerry are targeting specific groups there for attention, particularly Catholics.

The strategy may be working for Bush better than it is for Kerry, with Catholics polled by Zogby International in some of those states pulling away from the general public and saying they are more likely to vote for Bush.

Although in past decades Catholics were seen as a significant voting bloc, the conventional political wisdom has it that Catholics tend to vote about the same as people in similar demographic groups or economic circumstances.

So why did 60 percent of a sampling of Catholics in Minnesota say they were likely to vote for Bush, compared to 44 percent of the overall state voters who said they would re-elect the president? By comparison, 51 percent of all Minnesota voters polled said they plan to vote for Kerry, while 36 percent of Catholics said they would do so.

Those results of the phone survey of 725 Minnesota voters conducted between Aug. 28 and Sept. 3, and released Sept. 7, continued a trend that has evolved over the summer among Catholics in the state. About 25 percent of Minnesota residents are Catholic.

Zogby senior political writer Fritz Wenzel told Catholic News Service that the answer may lie in the attention brought to Kerry's abortion positions this summer. In places with strong pro-life networks such as Minnesota, that may be affecting how some Catholics vote, he thinks.

"In this political atmosphere, there are two key issues for Catholics," Wenzel said. "Concern about the legitimacy of the war in Iraq is being overridden by ongoing discomfort with Kerry's stand on abortion."

Kerry, a Catholic, has a record of voting against bills that would limit abortion and in favor of legislation to keep it less restricted. Bush supports abortion-limiting legislation and signed a ban on partial-birth abortions. Catholic teaching opposes abortion in all circumstances.

Wenzel said Zogby's bimonthly poll showed Catholic voters in some states began to split toward Bush in midsummer. That was soon after widespread news reports of statements by U.S. bishops over whether Catholic politicians whose actions in office contradict some church teachings should be permitted to receive Communion.

A separate August poll by the Pew Research Center and the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life found 72 percent of Catholics nationwide think it is inappropriate for bishops to deny Communion to politicians whose public actions on abortion and other life issues go against church teachings.

But Wenzel said, although Catholics may disagree with bishops who want to impose such a sanction on politicians, news on the topic brought to the forefront Kerry's position on life issues. And that is turning some Catholic voters into Bush supporters, he said.

"These comments (by bishops) have gotten huge play," he said.

"Denying Communion is a whole different issue than abortion, but it made people aware of (the candidates') positions," Wenzel said. "It's like a potato chip that's the conveyor for the salt."

Wenzel said he sees stronger support for Bush in states such as Minnesota where Catholics tend to be fairly conservative on moral issues. And the Republican president's campaign has done an effective job of playing to those interests, he said.

On the other hand, when Kerry tried to explain how he sees his beliefs as a Catholic as separate from his obligations as an elected representative, "he tried to nuance his explanation and I don't think people followed it," Wenzel said.

Iowa, Wisconsin, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania are also Catholic-heavy battleground states where Catholic voters are polling significantly more in favor of Bush than is the general population, according to the Zogby data. Here are the Sept. 7 report's figures:

-- Iowa: Overall -- Bush voters, 47 percent; Kerry voters, 51 percent. Catholics -- Bush voters, 56 percent; Kerry voters, 43 percent. About 18 percent of Iowans are Catholic.

-- Wisconsin: Overall -- Bush voters, 48 percent; Kerry voters, 50 percent. Catholics -- Bush voters, 56 percent; Kerry voters, 42 percent. About 31 percent of Wisconsin residents are Catholic.

-- New Hampshire: Overall -- Bush voters, 45 percent; Kerry voters, 50 percent. Catholics -- Bush voters, 53 percent; Kerry voters, 36 percent. Twenty-seven percent of the state's residents are Catholic.

-- Pennsylvania: Overall -- Bush voters, 47 percent; Kerry voters, 50 percent. Catholics -- Bush voters, 54 percent; Kerry voters, 44 percent. Pennsylvania's population is about 30 percent Catholic.

In most of the other swing states where Zogby polls regularly, Catholic voters support Bush and Kerry by about the same percentages as the rest of those queried.

Nevada and New Mexico are the notable exceptions among the battleground states. In both states Catholics are significantly more likely than their counterparts to say they'll vote for Kerry.

-- Nevada: Overall -- Bush voters, 47 percent; Kerry voters, 47 percent. Catholics -- Bush voters, 41 percent; Kerry voters, 56 percent. About 26 percent of the population is Catholic.

-- New Mexico: Overall -- Bush voters, 44 percent; Kerry voters, 54 percent. Catholics -- Bush voters, 30 percent; Kerry voters, 69 percent. New Mexico's population also is about 24 percent Catholic.

Wenzel said the candidates' positions on abortion are unlikely to be as strong a factor for Catholics in the West, partly because in most of the hotly contested Western states Catholics represent a smaller percentage of the population and targeting campaign messages to them is tougher.

But in states such as Pennsylvania and Michigan, whose population is 23 percent Catholic, winning over a majority of Catholics could make enough of a difference to put the state in either candidate's "win" column, Wenzel said.

Zogby's statistical margin of error in its state-by-state battleground polling ranges from a high of plus or minus 4.3 percent in West Virginia, where it queried 532 voters, to a low of plus or minus 2.4 percent in Ohio, where it queried 1,714 voters. Margins of error would be higher for breakout samples, such as Catholics.

My "reader's digest version" isn't complete, but it's simple enough to be effective. (not in priority order)

WHY NOT KERRY?

1. Kerry met with the Communist NVA enemy in Paris in 1971, while still a commissioned Naval officer.

2. Kerry lied in his 1971 testimony to congress regarding the actions of U.S. troops in Vietnam.

3. Kerry voted against the 1st Gulf War when all of the pre-conditions for war, that he now says are required, were, in fact present.

4. Kerry believes that higher taxes to fund government programs are good for America. He is unable to acknowledge that lower tax rates result in higher tax receipts, due to the increased economic activity it encourages. The “multiplier effect” is real, in spite of attempts to trivialize it by renaming it “trickle down economics”.

5. (Per Charles Krauthammer - himself trained as a doctor and a victim of paralysis) “Claims of impending miracle cures based on embryonic stem cell research are simply false. In fact, no such hope exists anywhere in the foreseeable future. The science involved doesn’t support the marketing campaign.”
It is nothing more than a lame attempt to assign a benefit to abortion.

6. Kerry supports late term abortion, which is clearly murder, as anybody who has given the procedure a second thought will immediately recognize.

7. Kerry supports all abortion, which is the cornerstone of our “no consequences” culture.

8. Kerry consistently votes against defense and intelligence programs because they compete with funding for his pet social programs, which inevitably undermine a productive society.

9. Kerry would prefer that the U.S. not be a world power. He believes the U.N. is able to resolve world conflicts without ever firing a shot.

10. Kerry has demonstrated no core values and is happy to adjust his position based upon popular opinion at the time, even as the audience changes. This is the sign of an opportunistic follower, not a leader.

11. Kerry has no understanding of domestic or global economics. He prefers pandering to the lowest common denominator for the sole purpose of gaining and maintaining power.

12. Kerry has no understanding of energy policy. While claiming to support “renewable energy”, he voted to kill a “wind farm” within sight of his precious Cape Cod coastline.

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