Catholic Lobby Urges Senate to Vote in Support of Latest Pro-Democracy Bill

For Immediate Release: October 20, 2021

Contact: Colleen Ross, cross@networklobby.org, 202-601-7877

Catholic Lobby Urges Senate to Vote in Support of Latest Pro-Democracy Bill

Mary J. Novak: “Moral leaders in Congress must ensure the power of the vote is with the people and we can cast our ballots freely, safely, and equally.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. –The Freedom to Vote Act is the latest legislative resolution for an expansive defense of our democracy. Senators Klobuchar, Kaine, King, Manchin, Merkley, Padilla, Tester, and Warnock introduced the Freedom to Vote Act (S.2747), which includes provisions that would end partisan gerrymandering, decrease the power of money in politics, enacts an automatic voter registration system for each state, and expand access to same-day voter registration. Recent polling shows a supermajority of public support for the bill across party lines.

Ahead of a Senate vote on this legislation, NETWORK urges Senators to champion the God-given dignity of every voter and their right to be heard by debating, and passing, the Freedom to Vote Act.

Sister Josita Colbert, SNDdeN, President of the National Black Sisters’ Conference said:

“Every citizen, no matter their community, zip code, or income level, has a sacred right and a moral and constitutional obligation to vote. As members of the National Black Sisters’ Conference, we know the importance of ensuring voters of color can participate in our political processes. Congress must act by passing the Freedom to Vote Act to ensure all voters’ voices are heard and their dignity affirmed by our election regulations.”

Sister Quincy Howard, OP,  Government Relations Advocate at NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice said:

“In our last election, U.S. democratic systems experience an unexpected, significant stress-test that voters, election officials and volunteers managed to pull us through. Now with some state legislatures sabotaging election systems and rolling out the most restrictive voting laws since Jim Crow, our next election could be the breaking point. In order to build a future where our elections are trusted and fair, we need to insure that all voters have equal opportunity to cast their ballots and that each voice counts equally. Nothing less than our democracy is at stake.”

Mary J. Novak, Executive Director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice said:

“At NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice we know that we must work together to build a democracy accountable to the people. Moral leaders in Congress must ensure the power of the vote is with the people and we can cast our ballots freely, safely, and equally.”

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NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice – advocates for justice inspired by Catholic Sisters – educates, organizes, and lobbies for economic and social transformation. They have a nearly 50-year track record of lobbying for critical federal programs that support those at the margins and prioritize the common good. www.networklobby.org