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Clinton Presidential Records
Digital Records Marker
This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative
marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff.
This marker identifies the place of a publication.
Publications have not been scanned in their entirety for the purpose
of digitization. To see the full publication please search online or
visit the Clinton Presidential Library's Research Room.
file children
Addendum
SPECIAL REPORT
Research Portfolio
8
A NEW RITE:
CONSERVATIVE
PLAYING THE
CATHOLIC
CATHOLIC CARD
ORGANIZATIONS
THE CHRISTIAN COALITION'S
AND THEIR ALLIES
POLITICAL STRATEGY
Catholics for a Free Choice
On October 10, 1995, barely a year before the 1996 elections, the
The Christian Coalition almost immediately published a "Catholic
Christian Coalition announced a new division to attract Catholic
Alliance" congressional scorecard with content identical to the coali-
membership. This "fully-owned subsidiary" of the coalition is one
tion's main scorecard, although two Catholic aides soon said future
more organizing tool in one of the highest-profile political organiz-
scorecards would cover an overlapping but different set of issues.
ing machines around.
That early congressional scorecard also made bold claims from
While the Christian Coalition already claims a large member-
which the Christian Coalition/Catholic Alliance has retreated.
ship, its clout would grow if it could claim to represent a significant
"Catholic Alliance is making sure America's 50,000,000 Catholics
percentage of the largest denomination in the United States, the
gain a voice in our government," it said (understating the number
Roman Catholic Church. "I don't have to do the math for you,"
of Catholics); the division "represents Catholics" and "provides
says one Catholic ally. "The possibilities are endless."
America's 50 million Catholics with the information and
Ralph Reed, executive director of the Christian Coalition, may
knowledge they need to make sure Catholic voices are heard in
have done the math. US Catholics number 60 million, account for
government." Catholic bishops disagreed, and the project's executive
almost 30 percent of registered voters, and make themselves both
director now says that "the Catholic Alliance does not pretend to
accessible and influential through a huge infrastructure: about 200
represent all Catholics. Our goal is to galvanize like-minded
dioceses with 20,000 parish churches; 605 hospitals and more than
Catholics." But the Christian Coalition reflects the views of a
4,800 social service centers; 235 colleges and universities, 1,350
small minority of US Catholics, polls show: Only 15 percent of US
high schools, and 7,200 grammar schools, which often distribute
Catholics believe abortion should be illegal in all circumstances;
political materials to parents through their children. Reed has said
only 17 percent believe homosexuals should not have equal employ-
that the Christian Coalition plans to distribute forty million
ment rights and opportunities; only 24 percent reject the statement
candidate scorecards in Catholic parishes during 1996. The
that welfare reform must begin by increasing spending, to fund job
conversion of the House and Senate from Democratic to Republican
training; and only 26 percent view the Christian Coalition and
majorities already has been ascribed largely to the Christian
its positions positively.² Perhaps this is why the funfare-and the
Coalition. Appealing to Catholics to broaden its reach, the
fears-that attended the Christian Coalition's announcement
Christian Coalition hopes to go further in 1996.
have gone flat just a few months later.
Apparently anxious to catch the wave of the presidential elec-
Still, the current political moment is full of talk about
tion cycle, the Christian Coalition launched its Catholic initiative
"the Catholic vote." This special report outlines the Christian
before cementing the project's identity or enlisting significant
Coalition's project for commanding as much of that vote as it can.
Catholic leadership in official directive or advisory capacities.