Rep. Pete Stark Is Lone Dissent, Cites Abortion Rights, Separation

he House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly yesterday to affirm its support for the Vatican's unique "observer" status at the United Nations, turning back an effort by family planning and separationist groups to reduce the Catholic Church's role in the international body.

    The lone dissent came from California Rep. Pete Stark, who has represented his state's 13th Congressional District since 1973. The Washington Times newspaper described Stark as "an avid supporter of abortion rights who takes a tough line on separation of church and state."

    The non-binding measure, House Congressional Resolution 253, was introduced in February by Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ) and had the support of 38 cosponsors. The resolution was in response to an international campaign initiated by a coalition of over 300 groups led by Catholics for a Free Choice, which sought to reduce the Vatican's influence in the U.N. Critics have charged that the Holy See is a religion, yet enjoys some of the power of a nation state within the international body, and exercises undue influence at conferences and summits dealing with hot button issues such as abortion rights and family planning. American Atheists joined the CFFC's campaign, as have Republicans for Choice, Planned Parenthood and many others.

    "The question of the appropriate role for the Roman Catholic Church in the U.N., whether it is called the Holy See or the Vatican, is a legitimate question of the separation of church and state that deserves serious consideration by both the United Nations and the U.S. Congress, declared Francis Kissling, President of Catholics for a Free Choice in a statement issued after yesterday's lopsided vote.

    "Non-binding jingoistic apple pie resolutions that mistake questions of law and policy will not make the real issues go away."

    In his statement made in opposition to the resolution, Rep. Stark suggested that the measure "may very well be unconstitutional," and violated the First Amendment's separation of church and state.

    "The bill is also grossly inappropriate," Stark added. "The Majority party has consistently refused to pay our dues to the United Nations and has even called for its dissolution, while at the same time trying to tell the UN how to operate..."

    Unlike any other religion, including international denominations, the Roman Catholic Church has a dual-role as both a government and a sectarian movement. It currently has diplomatic relations with 169 nations, including the United States. While the Holy See has no vote at the U.N., critics point to the Vatican's uncanny ability to influence international conferences, including last month's gathering on the status of women held in New York. In addition, the Vatican has the authority to enter into open and secret treaties with other governments.

    Rep. Smith, a strident opponent of abortion rights, said that demands for a review of the Vatican's unique standing at the U.N. were "an ideological power play motivated by anti-Catholic and pro-abortion sentiments," and compared it to Arab efforts to expel Israel from the international body.

    Rep. Dick Armey, House Majority Leader, agreed. Armey told the N.Y. Times, "This attack against the Vatican strikes at our bedrock democratic values that teach us tolerance for legitimate differences of opinion."

    The issue of the Vatican's standing at the United Nations is part of a larger theme now an issue in election 2000. Candidates from both major parties have been courting Roman Catholic leaders and votes; earlier this month, for instance, GOP Texas Gov. George W. Bush, during a campaign swing through Philadelphia, held a low-profile meeting with Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, a strong supporter of aid to religious schools and a ban on abortion rights.

California Rep. Pete Stark was the only member of congress with the courage to speak out against special recognition for the Vatican political state. Send an e-mail or letter of support telling Mr. Stark that you support his actions on behalf of the First Amendment separation of church and state!

Contact Rep. Stark

For Bush, the "Catholic issue" has become a heated one, especially after his primary appearance earlier this year at Bob Jones University in South Carolina. The school, a bedrock of Protestant fundamentalism, is critical of the Catholic Church, and the founder of the school referred to the Pope as the Antichrist.

    Bush's choice of a vice presidential running mate has also taken on a religious coloration. Anti-choice groups including the Roman Catholic Church are demanding a pro-life candidate on the Republican ticket in November.

    According to the Washington Times, the issue may even affect other political races, including First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton's run for the Senate seat from New York. "Many of her prominent female supporters sit on boards of organizations asking to reduce the Vatican's influence," noted the Times in today's edition. "Mrs. Clinton has declined to denounce those efforts, a fact that the Republican National Committee occasionally points out in critical press releases."

    Yesterday's resolution "commends the Holy See for its strong commitment to fundamental human rights, including the protection of innocent human life both before and after birth" and "strongly objects to any effort to expel the Holy See from the United Nations as a state participant by removing its status as a nonmember state Permanent Observer..."

    A similar resolution awaits passage in the U.S. Senate.

July 11, 2000

Mr. Speaker,

   Today I rise in opposition to H. Con. Res. 253. This bill may very well be unconstitutional, is inappropriate, and is counter to the fundamentals I have supported since coming to Congress.

   The writers of the Constitution understood the importance of the separation of church and state. While religion plays an important role in our society, "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion." This resolution recognizes the establishment of the government of a religious institution, the Roman Catholic Church, as a sovereign state. Thus this bill is unconstitutional and should not have even appeared on the floor of the House.

   This bill is also grossly inappropriate. The Majority party has consistently refused to pay our dues to the United Nations and has even called for its dissolution, while at the same time trying to tell the UN how to operate. This bill opposes a movement not to remove the Vatican from the United Nations but merely to put the Catholic Church in the same position that all the other non-governmental organizations have in the UN. This movement, if successful, would simply remove voting privileges from the Vatican, a right not enjoyed by any other non-governmental UN member today.

   And finally, this bill "commends the Holy See for its strong commitment to fundamental human rights, including the protection of innocent human life both before and after birth." (emphasis added) I cannot vote for a bill that contains such language as I believe that it is a fundamental human right that a woman have the right to decide what happens to her body. I have fought for many years to ensure a woman’s right to choose and I will not vote for any bill that suggests that a woman choosing to have an abortion is a person who violates human rights.

   For these reason I urge my fellow members of Congress to vote against this inappropriate campaign check written to make the Republican Party seem even more anti-choice.

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