Washington, DC-(ENEWSPF)- More than 40 national Catholic leaders and prominent theologians at universities across the country released a strongly worded open letter today urging “our fellow Catholics Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum to stop perpetuating ugly racial stereotypes on the campaign trail.”
In the lead up to Saturday’s primary in South Carolina, Newt Gingrich has frequently blasted President Obama as a “food stamp president” and implied that some African Americans are more content to collect welfare benefits than work. Rick Santorum attracted scrutiny for telling Iowa voters he doesn’t want “to make black people’s lives better by giving them somebody else’s money.”
The open letter reminds the two presidential candidates, vying for Christian conservative voters, that U.S. Catholic bishops have called racism an “intrinsic evil” and consistently defend vital government programs such as food stamps and unemployment benefits that help struggling Americans.
The full text of the statement and signatories follow.
An Open Letter to Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum:
As Catholic leaders who recognize that the moral scandals of racism and poverty remain a blemish on the American soul, we challenge our fellow Catholics Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum to stop perpetuating ugly racial stereotypes on the campaign trail. Mr. Gingrich has frequently attacked President Obama as a “food stamp president” and claimed that African Americans are content to collect welfare benefits rather than pursue employment. Campaigning in Iowa, Mr. Santorum remarked: “I don’t want to make black people’s lives better by giving them somebody else’s money.” Labeling our nation’s first African-American president with a title that evokes the past myth of “welfare queens” and inflaming other racist caricatures is irresponsible, immoral and unworthy of political leaders.
Some presidential candidates now courting “values voters” seem to have forgotten that defending human life and dignity does not stop with protecting the unborn. We remind Mr. Gingrich and Mr. Santorum that Catholic bishops describe racism as an “intrinsic evil” and consistently defend vital government programs such as food stamps and unemployment benefits that help struggling Americans. At a time when nearly 1 in 6 Americans live in poverty, charities and the free market alone can’t address the urgent needs of our most vulnerable neighbors. And while jobseekers outnumber job openings 4-to-1, suggesting that the unemployed would rather collect benefits than work is misleading and insulting.
As the South Carolina primary approaches, we urge Mr. Gingrich, Mr. Santorum and all presidential candidates to reject the politics of racial division, refrain from offensive rhetoric and unite behind an agenda that promotes racial and economic justice.
Francis X. Doyle
Associate General Secretary
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (retired)Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Institute Leadership Team:
Sisters Patricia McDermott, RSM (President) Eileen Campbell, RSM Anne Curtis, RSM Mary Pat Gavin, RSM Deborah Troillett, RSMSister Pat Farrell, OSF
President
Leadership Conference of Women ReligiousRev. Bryan N. Massingale
Associate Professor of Theology
Marquette UniversityRev. Clete Kiley
Director for Immigration Policy
UNITE HERERev. Anthony J. Pogorelc, M.Div., Ph.D.
The Catholic University of America
Institute for Policy Research & Catholic StudiesRev. David Hollenbach, S.J.
University Chair in Human Rights and International Justice
Boston CollegeSr. Patricia J. Chappell, SNDdeN
Executive Director, Pax Christi USAMarie Dennis
Co-President, Pax Christi InternationalRev. John F. Kavanaugh S.J.
Professor of Philosophy
St. Louis UniversityRev. Jim Keenan, S.J.
Founders Professor in Theology
Boston CollegeRev. Thomas J. Reese, S.J.
Senior Fellow
Woodstock Theological Center
Georgetown UniversitySister Mary Ellen Howard
Executive Director
Cabrini Clinic, DetroitRev. James E. Hug, S.J.
President
Center of ConcernSister Simone Campbell
Executive Director
NETWORK, A Catholic Social Justice LobbySteven Schneck
Director
Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies
The Catholic University of AmericaSister Karen M. Donahue, RSM
Justice Team
Sisters of Mercy West Midwest CommunitySister Mary Ann Hinsdale
Assoc. Prof. of Theology
Boston CollegeTom Allio
Cleveland Diocesan Social Action Director (retired)M. Shawn Copeland
Associate Professor of Theology
Boston CollegeSister Maria Riley, OP
Senior Advisor
Center of ConcernTodd Whitmore
Associate Professor
Department of Theology
University of Notre DameTerrence W. Tilley
Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J., Professor of Catholic Theology
Chair
Theology Department
Fordham University, Bronx, NYMichael E. Lee
Associate Professor
Theology Department
Fordham University, Bronx, NYPaul Lakeland
Aloysius P. Kelley S.J. Professor of Catholic Studies
Director, Center for Catholic Studies Fairfield UniversityLisa Sowle Cahill
Monan Professor of Theology
Boston CollegeEric LeCompte
Board Member
Catholics in Alliance for the Common GoodTobias Winright
Associate Professor of Theological Ethics
Saint Louis UniversityChristopher Pramuk
Assistant Professor of Theology
Xavier University, CincinnatiJohn Sniegocki
Associate Professor of Christian Ethics
Xavier University, CincinnatiKathleen Maas Weigert
Carolyn Farrell, BVM Professor of Women and Leadership
Loyola University, ChicagoDaniel K. Finn
Professor of Theology and Economics
St. John’s University, MinnesotaGerald J. Beyer
Associate Professor of Christian Social Ethics
Department of Theology and Religious Studies
Saint Joseph’s University, PhiladelphiaJeannine Hill Fletcher
Associate Professor of Theology
Faculty Director
Dorothy Day Center for Service and Justice
Fordham University, Bronx, NYSister Mary Ann Hinsdale
Assoc. Prof. of Theology
Boston CollegeJohn Inglis
Professor and Chair
Department of Philosophy
University of DaytonAnthony B. Smith
Associate Professor
Department of Religious Studies
University of DaytonDavid O’Brien
University Professor of Faith and Culture
University of DaytonWilliam L. Portier
Mary Ann Spearin Chair of Catholic Theology
University of DaytonAlex Mikulich
Research Fellow
Jesuit Social Research Institute
Loyola University, New OrleansSusan M. Weishar
Migration Specialist
Jesuit Social Research Institute
Loyola UniversityKristin Heyer
Associate Professor
Religious Studies
Santa Clara UniversityJames Salt
Executive Director
Catholics UnitedVincent Miller
Professor of Religious Studies
University of DaytonNancy Dallavalle
Associate Professor and Chair
Department of Religious Studies
Fairfield University
Source: http://www.faithinpubliclife.org