FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 16, 2007

Stephanie Niedringhaus (NETWORK) 202-347-9797 x224, sniedringhaus@networklobby.org

Catholic Groups Make Moral Appeal to Override President’s SCHIP Veto

WASHINGTON , DC- On Tuesday, Oct. 16, 5:30 pm on the Upper Senate Park, the nation’s elected, labor and faith leaders held a Vigil for Children’s Health Care to appeal to Congress to override President Bush’s veto of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, other legislators and religious leaders stood united in their support of SCHIP.

Catholic social justice leaders gave a moral appeal to Congress and spoke to the Catholic calling to help the weak and vulnerable. Sr. Marge Clark, BVM of NETWORK, a National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, said at the vigil, “Catholic Social Teaching reminds us the right to healthcare flows from the sanctity of human life and the dignity that belongs to each person because we are created in God’s image. There is no better way to protect the dignity of our most vulnerable children than to provide for their healthy development.”

Chris Korzen, Executive Director of Catholics United said that “A truly pro-life policy must include support for children’s health care for those who cannot afford it. Supporting the culture of life must be a philosophy and not a talking point. Congress has the obligation to protect poor children and support SCHIP.”

Alexia Kelley, Executive Director of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good said, “This legislation rises above partisan politics and has proven effective in raising the quality of care to poor children. Catholic Charities, the Catholic Health Association, and countless other committed faith groups support SCHIP.”

Catholics United has launched radio ads on 21 Christian and talk radio stations targeting ten pro-life members of Congress opposing reauthorizing SCHIP. NETWORK has directed thousands of messages to members of Congress from across the country through its website asking for their support of SCHIP.

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