FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 3, 2007

CONTACT: Stephanie Niedringhaus, 202-347-9797 x224, sniedringhaus@networklobby.org

CATHOLIC LOBBY DEPLORES SCHIP VETO

Washington, DC : NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, deplores today’s veto by President Bush of the SCHIP bill, which supports healthcare for children living at the economic margins. We strongly urge Congress to override this unjust veto.

Sister Simone Campbell, NETWORK’s Executive Director, spoke in favor of SCHIP at a Capitol Hill press conference, where she stated, “I come here today to be a witness to the fact that we as a nation, the richest nation on earth, will be failing terribly if we neglect to provide healthcare to our youngest and most vulnerable residents.”

She further noted that overriding the veto is “an important step toward providing what our faith calls us to, what our children need, and what our nation deserves.”

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NETWORK—a Catholic leader in the global movement for justice and peace—educates, organizes and lobbies for economic and social transformation. Founded in 1971 by 47 Catholic sisters, NETWORK is supported by thousands of groups and individuals committed to working for social and economic justice. For more information, see www.networklobby.org.