Press Room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2, 2006

Contact: Matt Sande, Director of Legislative Affairs, (262) 352-0890
or Peggy Hamill, State Director, (414) 416-0489

Governor Doyle’s Hypocrisy on Life Issues Makes Him Untrustworthy on Others

Brookfield, WI – Throughout his first term in office and continuing through his bid for reelection, Governor Doyle has steadfastly advocated policies that clearly contradict the tenets of his religious faith. From embryonic stem cell research and cloning to abortion and pharmacists’ conscience rights protections, the Governor has adopted public positions and exercised his veto pen in defiance of his Catholic faith. Can he be trusted on other issues of importance to the state – taxes, jobs, health care – when his public actions on vital life issues are so at odds with his public faith?

“Governor Doyle’s hypocrisy on life issues makes him untrustworthy on other issues affecting Wisconsinites,” said Peggy Hamill, Pro-Life Wisconsin’s state director. “By claiming to be Catholic and then callously vetoing the comprehensive human cloning ban, facilitating embryo destructive research, and funding so-called ‘family planning,’ how can the people of this state trust him on any other issue?,” questioned Hamill. “For example, the Governor claims to be fiscally conservative but then over and over he vetoes the property tax freeze and opposes a constitutional amendment to reign in taxes and spending. His word is meaningless.”

Concerning the issue of embryonic stem cell research, Governor Doyle’s policies prompted the Wisconsin Catholic Conference of Bishops to pen him a letter in May urging him to “rethink our state’s policy regarding the destruction of human embryos.”

In a written response stridently defending his utilitarian policies facilitating the killing of embryonic people, Governor Doyle defied his Bishops, stating, “I must respectfully disagree with your position.”

“As Pro-Life Wisconsin continues our programs educating the public about the deadly nature of human embryonic stem cell research, we often cite the sound teachings of the Roman Catholic Church with regard to the protection of innocent human life,” said Hamill. “As people of all faiths become aware of God’s providential plan for his gift of human life they are more and more scandalized by the anti-life actions of our Governor. By insisting that jobs and financial gain are worth more than life itself, the Governor sets an example of warped morals that the citizens of Wisconsin may be tempted to adopt.”

According to Governor Doyle’s office, he is a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church in Madison. The Catechism of the Catholic Church and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops both clearly condemn the willful destruction of an innocent human being.

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