Senator Brownback: Set the Record Straight

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Once again, operatives with strong partisan ties are misusing faith to achieve their political ends.

A new-on-the-scene conservative organization run by former Bush adviser Deal Hudson sent out a fundraising appeal using Sen. Sam Brownback's (R-Kansas) name to question the sincerity of the faith of several of his Congressional colleagues.  The hurtful letter claimed to be a voice for "real Catholics," and called several senators' faith a "smokescreen."¹

Click here to see the letter (Warning: contains descriptions of late-term abortions)

Sen. Brownback's office has stated he does not support the letter and has asked the Catholic Advocate to stop using his name in these fundraising efforts.

This is a good first step, but more needs to be done.  Countless Catholics have been misled by this letter, and Hudson is still profiting from its insults.

All people of faith have reason to be offended by the letter's divisive rhetoric. Together with our friends at Catholics United we are calling on Senator Brownback to 1) clarify to all those who received the letter that he does not support these attacks on his colleagues' faith and 2) ask Deal Hudson to return all the funds raised by this campaign or put them to good use in this time of economic crisis by donating them to Catholic Charities.

Please sign the petition.  With your help, we can set the record straight.

Dear Senator Brownback, Thank you for distancing yourself from the fundraising appeal from the Catholic Advocate and asking for your name not to be used in future mailings. All people of faith have an interest in making sure our national dialogue on faith and politics fosters the common good, rather than division. Your initial statements on the letter were a great first step, but we are concerned that thousands of Catholics, and your constituents in Kansas, might not be aware of your position on the letter. We are asking you to: 1) Clarify your position on the letter directly to all those who received it. 2) Ask Deal Hudson and the Catholic Advocate to return any donations collected under your name or "pay it forward" by donating the money to Catholic Charities, an organization on the front lines, caring for families suffering in this economic crisis. Thank you.

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¹Source: National Catholic Reporter