Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- More than two dozen Catholics, including some professors, have signed on to a statement by the fake Catholic group Catholics United supporting the nomination of pro-abortion Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. The Cardinal Newman Society is taking those professors to task.

The pro-abortion group Catholics United has started an organization to defend President Barack Obama's pro-abortion health selection and has been criticized for spreading misinformation about Sebelius' record.

Now, the Cardinal Newman Society is concerned that half of the 26 Catholic activists, scholars and theologians who signed the CU statement are professors employed by Catholic universities.

“These professors are giving comfort and aid to those whose stated goals are to advance policies directly opposed to Catholic teachings on life issues," CNS president Patrick Reilly told LifeNews.com.

“Lauding pro-abortion Catholics such as Gov. Sebelius is an entirely individual action that does not necessarily reflect on their Catholic employers, but it does highlight the problem of Catholic universities being used as platforms for pro-abortion politics," he continued. "Moreover, it speaks to the need for careful faculty hiring that considers the moral judgment and example of professors.”

CNS joins other pro-life groups in noting that Catholics United has misstated Sebelius' pro-abortion record. CU claims Sebelius has been "successful at reducing abortions" yet she has vetoed pro-life legislation that would do just that.

"Kathleen Sebelius vetoed pro-life legislation on four separate occasions as governor of Kansas," Reilly said. "After she vetoed the pro-life Comprehensive Abortion Reform Act in April 2008, Bishop Joseph Naumann [said she should stop receiving communion.]"

“Given Gov. Sebelius’s abortion record and the concerns of her own bishop, it is sad that some of her strongest supporters are speaking out from their platforms on Catholic campuses,” noted Reilly.

"This is especially true given the important Catholic values that may very well come under assault by the Obama Administration," he added.

Catholic scholars who signed the statement, with their Catholic university affiliations, include:

Lisa Sowle Cahill – Boston College
Nicholas Cafardi – Duquesne University
William D’Antonio – The Catholic University of America
Miguel H. Diaz – College of St. Benedict / St. John’s University (Minnesota)
Julia Dowd – University of San Francisco
Joseph Fahey – Manhattan College
Fr. David Hollenbach – Boston College
Delores Leckey – Georgetown University (Woodstock Theological Center fellow)
Fr. Thomas Massaro – Boston College
Vincent Miller – Georgetown University
David O’Brien – College of the Holy Cross
Fr. Thomas Reese – Georgetown University (Woodstock Theological Center fellow)
Stephen Schneck – The Catholic University of America

Related web sites:
Cardinal Newman Society - http://www.cardinalnewmansociety.org

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