Philadelphia, PA – October 27, 2016- In recent weeks, the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks released emails between Hillary Clinton, her staffers, and campaign supporters. They show extremely hostile comments about Catholics. As a Catholic organization concerned with religious freedom and conscience rights, the Catholic Medical Association (CMA) is disturbed by these comments made by supporters of a person running for the highest office in America.
One of the derogatory communications is between Sandy Newman, president of Voices for Progress, and John Podesta, Chair of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Newman suggests that regarding contraceptive use, “There needs to be a Catholic Spring [like the “Arab Spring” protests], in which Catholics themselves demand the end of a middle ages dictatorship and the beginning of a little democracy and respect for gender equality in the Catholic church. Is contraceptive coverage an issue around which that could happen?” Here Newman shows a lack of understanding about the truth of Catholic teaching regarding contraception, and the genuine concern for women embodied in such teachings. Podesta responds, “We created Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good to organize for a moment like this. But I think it lacks the leadership to do so now. Likewise Catholics United. Like most Spring movements, I think this one will have to be bottom up.” This reveals he and his colleagues created groups which have the actual agenda of trying to change the 2,000-year-old teachings of the Catholic church. It also speaks of their radical misunderstanding of such teachings; a patronizing view of the Church and its beliefs; and/or a highly inflated view of their own influence.
Another disparaging exchange is between Neera Tanden, formerly a Clinton staffer, and Hillary Clinton, where Tanden sends Clinton an article she wrote for The New Republic. The piece elucidates how Clinton, in a meeting attended by Planned Parenthood and other pro-abortion groups, came up with the idea of promoting contraceptive coverage in health care plans. It also criticizes the “extremes of the … [pro-life] position” and notes the strategy of using contraception as a wedge issue has been “successful as a political cudgel, helping isolate extreme … [pro-life] advocates from the mainstream.” It shows Tanden and her colleagues are quite unhappy with Catholic resistance to the HHS contraceptive mandate. Hillary Clinton’s reply to Tanden: “Can you believe we are still fighting this battle?”
Clearly, Clinton and her associates believe the Catholic Church, and others opposing coercion of employers and insurances to cover abortifacient contraceptives, should have “given up” a long time ago. They plainly also see it as a battle, which it will continue to be, as long as the government continues to force unethical healthcare legislation.
These emails show enmity towards Catholics in general; however, this is about freedom of all religions, not just Catholicism. If this is a sign of what the candidate and her staff believes about Catholics and freedom of religion, it could be a menacing indication should this candidate win the election of upcoming further persecution of Catholics and those of other religions.
The CMA strongly denounces the remarks in these emails, especially since they undermine the way genuinely Catholic healthcare is practiced. We call on Catholics and all individuals of good will to be vigilant against this type of hateful and insulting speech, and to stand up for the freedom of conscience to practice authentically Catholic healthcare.
Contact:
Catholic Medical Association
Marguerite DeGrassa, Director of Communications
degrassa@cathmed.org
484-270-8002 x.11
29 Bala Ave # 205, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
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