That is the judgment of Frances Kissling, she of Catholics for a Free Choice, now rebaptized Catholics for Choice, on the appointment of Alexia Kelley as Director of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the Department of Health and Human Services. Kelley has been Executive Director of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, a lay-led social justice ministry associated with the “Religious Left” that also seeks common ground as well on abortion and other topics.
But evidently Kelley and CIACG are not “left” enough for Kissling et al, or perhaps too “common ground.” (Isn’t that the right’s line? Ah, extremes do tend to touch when they go far enough.)
CFC executive director Jon O’Brien had earlier called Kelley an “antiabortion advocate” and Catholics in Alliance “antichoice” and said her appointment “would be a defeat for reason and logic and calls into question whether President Obama’s administration is serious about reducing the need for abortion.” (Huh?)
In Salon yesterday, Kissling weighs in with “Obama’s poor choice for faith leader,” claiming again that Kelley and her former organization are “firmly planted on the far right” and that Kelley “believes abortion should be illegal and opposes contraception.”
It’s a major venting, but perhaps good evidence that Obama is still making the right moves.
H/T: MSW at “In All Things.”
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posted June 10, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Kissling and Catholics for Choice just aren’t plain dealers in the Catholic abortion conversation. CforC’s press release might as well have been written by Planned Parenthood or NARAL. Totally lacking in nuance or thoughtfulness.
posted June 10, 2009 at 3:37 pm
does anyone else think the constantly changing context of this argument, the reason why no compromise can be had is that too many people will be out of a job or have too much time on their hands if ever the issue could be settled?
County by County, this is the only true compromise. All the counties in a state support or oppose, great. All the States in the Union support or oppose, splendid. County by County a referendum to allow or outlaw abortion is the only solution. The power to choose needs to be localized.
The Left likes to use the motto “Think Global Act Local” but I’m wondering now if that only is their motto when the locals act according to the Left’s ideology…
posted June 10, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Is Frances Kissling actually a Catholic? Why would a Catholic organization be pro-abortion? Are these people really Catholics or are they just puppets for Plannned Parenthood?