WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On June 17, the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts revealed that five of the nine members of scandal-ridden Caritas Christi's Board of Governors are major contributors to pro- abortion politicians.
Caritas Christi, a network of Catholic healthcare facilities and hospitals, is affiliated with the Archdiocese of Boston and is answerable to Cardinal Sean O'Malley. The Archdiocese has been under intense scrutiny since early February regarding a joint venture between Caritas and Centene Corporation. The venture will make financially strapped Caritas eligible for Commonwealth Care funding from the state of Massachusetts.
"The Archdiocese of Boston has another scandal on its hands. They are in danger of participating in state- sponsored abortion," said Shaun Kenney, executive director of American Life League. "It's time Cardinal O'Malley put a stop to this travesty."
The venture, CeltiCare, of which Caritas has a 49 percent interest, has listed abortion and family planning "services" among the benefits included in its healthcare coverage.
The plan is set to go into effect July 1.
"This problem at Caritas goes to the very top: We have clearly seen that the majority of the Caritas Board of Governors supports abortion access, so why should we be surprised they're allowing it in Caritas?" Kenney asked.
The Catholic Action League reports on its findings gathered from the Federal Election Commission and the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance:
- Longtime Caritas Chairman James J. Karam contributed a total of more than $19,000 among the campaigns of President Barack Obama; Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; U.S. Senator John Kerry; Governor Deval Patrick; former Vice President Al Gore; Congressmen Barney Frank and Jim McGovern; former Lt. Governor Kerry Murphy-Healey; former Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly and State Senator Joan Menard.
- Caritas board member Joseph H. Feitelberg, Area Chair for the Order of Malta, contributed a total of more than $8,000 among the campaigns of John Kerry; Deval Patrick; Kerry Murphy-Healey; and Congressmen Barney Frank, Patrick Kennedy and Jim McGovern.
- Caritas board member Neil F. Finnegan contributed a total of more than $19,000 among the campaigns of Vice President Joe Biden; US Senators Christopher Dodd, Edward Kennedy and John Kerry; Congressmen Michael Capuano, Patrick Kennedy and Edward Markey; Boston Mayor Thomas Menino; and former State Treasurer Shannon O'Brien.
- Caritas board member John H. Garvey, Dean of Boston College Law School, contributed $1,750 to John Kerry.
- Caritas board member Ruben J. King-Shaw Jr., contributed $10,000 to Barack Obama.
