WASHINGTON (July 11, 2006)—The U.S. Catholic Bishops urged Congress to
renew the Voting Rights Act, landmark civil rights legislation, as the
House of Representatives prepares to vote on the bill this week. In a July
10 letter Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn, chairman of the bishops’
Domestic Policy Committee, asked House members to vote for The Fannie Lou
Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act
Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 (H.R. 9).
“Reauthorizing the Voting Rights Act is necessary to preserve and protect
the right to vote for all Americans,” wrote Bishop DiMarzio. “The right to
vote is essential to our democracy, and H.R. 9 protects this right. I urge
you to vote to renew and restore this vital law.”
The U.S. Catholic Bishops have long played a leadership role in securing
and protecting the right of all citizens to vote. The bishops’ conference
supported the last renewal of the Voting Rights Act in 1992. Local
dioceses and parishes and Catholic institutions are encouraged to
participate in non-partisan voting registration efforts.
The letter follows.
On behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, I write to
urge the House to renew the Voting Rights Act. I understand it is
scheduled for floor consideration this week. It is critical that the vote
occur this week. I urge all members to vote for it and oppose any
weakening amendments.
The Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act
Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 (H.R. 9) was reported to the
House by the Judiciary Committee under the leadership of Chairman
Sensenbrenner with overwhelming bipartisan support. Reauthorizing the
Voting Rights Act is necessary to preserve and protect the right to vote
for all Americans.
The Catholic bishops are proud of our past leadership role in securing
civil rights, including the right to vote. “No Catholic with a good
Christian conscience can fail to recognize the rights of all citizens to
vote,” wrote the Administrative Board of the National Catholic Welfare
Conference (predecessor of the bishops’ Conference) in 1963. Portions of
the Voting Rights Act were last renewed in 1992, with the support of the
bishops’ Conference. Our Conference has continually emphasized the
importance of voting and the right and responsibility of each citizen to
vote, and has encouraged dioceses, parishes and other Catholic
institutions to participate in non-partisan voting registration efforts.
Given the merits of the legislation and the strong bipartisan backing for
reauthorization, it was deeply disappointing that the bill was not able to
come to the House floor for a vote last month. The right to vote is
essential to our democracy, and H.R. 9 protects this right. I urge you to
vote to renew and restore this vital law.
Sincerely,
Most Rev. Nicholas DiMarzio, Ph.D., D.D.
Bishop of Brooklyn
Chairman, Domestic Policy Committee