OPPOSITION NOTES AN INVESTIGATIVE SERIES ON THOSE WHO OPPOSE WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

The American Life League: “More interested in making a statement than making a difference” I INTRODUCTION

he American Life League is on the right wing of the antichoice movement, marginalized and isolated even among ostensible allies. Although ALL has made T many ambitious statements of intent since it was founded some 25 years ago, it has failed to deliver on many of its promises and has attracted sharp criticism for apparent financial missteps. So extreme are ALL’s views on abortion and other subjects that it has regularly denounced such reliable conservatives as George W. Bush and Rush Limbaugh for failing to adopt ALL’s own extremism. The league has taken fire from other antichoice groups and—despite oft-professed devotion to the Vatican—from church leaders. In 2004, a spokeswoman for Washington, DC, archbishop Cardinal Theodore McCarrick sought to distance him from an ALL campaign for denial of communion to prochoice politicians. She told the Washington Post McCarrick had been “very clear” that “our teaching” allows Catholics to decide whether to receive communion.1 Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the firmly antichoice National Right to Life Committee, said of ALL in 2003, “I think they’re more The league has taken fire from other antichoice groups interested in making a statement than making a and—despite oft-professed devotion to the Vatican— difference.”2 from church leaders. League president Judie Brown has referred to her supporters, such as they are, as “hardliners”3 who constitute “the real prolife movement.”4 In 1999, the Institute for Democracy Studies said ALL sat atop the “extremist wing of the antichoice movement.”5 “We are laying the groundwork for a Christian movement that will dictate to politicians what it means to be prolife,” Brown once said.6 Despite such grand goals, the league can

CATHOLICS FOR A FREE CHOICE OPPOSITION NOTES • AN INVESTIGATIVE SERIES

Key Findings point to few effects on politicians’ or can be inflammatory. National Director Catholic leaders’ decisions, and it often David Bereit of STOPP International, an • The American Life League’s unusually appears unable to implement its own ALL division, delivered a speech months extreme antichoice positions have led plans. A heavily publicized 2003 drive to after the September 11, 2001, attacks on it to criticize, from the right, even build a “campus for life” was abandoned; the United States in which he used reliable far-right conservatives and a 2002 anticondom advertising campaign gunshot sounds to punctuate his have sparked rejection of the league was produced but never made it into description of an abortion “killing spree,” by Catholic church officials and other newspapers and subway stations as likening abortions to shootings and antichoice groups. planned. equating practitioners with terrorists.9 • In particular, ALL parts with many antichoice groups over contraception, In addition to ALL’s inability to deliver “Many prolife organizations act as which ALL categorically rejects and on promises, questions have been raised though abortion was nothing more than would like to see banned by law. about its finances, and about the a political question,” Judie Brown writes • ALL has failed to deliver on numerous propriety of its business dealings—in disapprovingly on the ALL Web site. plans and projects, including a particular, large contracts with an ALL “We don’t buy it. We know that ours is a campaign to raise money from founder’s private company, a stone’s moral crusade.”10 baseball personalities to build a throw from ALL’s Stafford, Virginia, “campus for life” and a planned headquarters. anticondom advertising campaign in The Richmond Times-Dispatch in 1999 II HISTORY Washington media and public spaces. detailed millions of dollars in ALL • ALL’s business dealings with a direct- contracts with the direct mail firm mail firm in which ALL founder Paul Judie and Paul Brown founded the then- Anthony, Kane and Associates, in which Brown holds the controlling interest American Life Lobby in 1979 after have been called “a scandal” by one ALL founder Paul Brown holds the breaking with the National Right to Life ex-employee and have been described controlling interest. Experts deemed the Committee, which they deemed too as unusual by experts. transactions legal but unusual, and the moderate. Judie Brown said in 1981 that • An independent watchdog rates ALL’s Times-Dispatch quoted former ALL the committee had been “trying to financial capacity and efficiency as publications manager Stephen Dunham destroy my husband” by absorbing his poor. as complaining, “So much money is Life Amendment Political Action • ALL engages in many overtly political being squandered.” Tax records show the Committee.11 activities, some of which would transactions continued at least until 2003, According to the Institute for appear to violate at least the spirit of when the league reported doing $1.42 Democracy Studies, the Browns started its charity tax status. million in business with Anthony, Kane ALL with financial support from • ALL has had close ties with such and Associates. antichoice figures as Father Paul Conservative Digest founder Richard The independent watchdog Charity Marx, Joseph Scheidler, Bryan Viguerie, who in later years worked to Kemper and former congressman Navigator, which assesses nonprofits’ muster support for a Salvadoran death- Robert Dornan, who once called his efficiency and capacity, gives ALL one squad leader and led the pro-Oliver political opponents “lesbian spear- star on a four-star scale. The league North, Reverend Sun Myung Moon- chuckers.” operates as a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit, backed American Freedom Coalition.12 • In a typically misogynistic comment, annually reporting revenue of more than ALL says that in 1981 it helped Paul Brown once said a rape victim $6 million, nearly all of it listed under Father Paul Marx found Human Life was “not the most beautiful woman,” direct public support.7 It collects no International.13 The following year, Judie adding, “When I hear her say she was membership dues, claims a board of five Brown testified in the US Congress in raped, my response is, ‘You wish.’” members, and in 2004 paid over $70,000 opposition to the Public Health Service each to two board members, four Act’s Title X, which seeks to ensure employees and an outside lawyer. The provision of reproductive-health services league holds special consultative status to poor women. Signing the bill in 1970, with the United Nations Economic and President Richard Nixon had said, “No Social Council,8 and claims ties to a American woman should be denied network of small antichoice groups access to family-planning assistance across the United States. Many of the because of her economic condition.”14 groups appear tiny, dormant or defunct. The 1990s saw ALL maintain a Although the group publicly renounces political and judicial focus. Its 1994 violence, the statements of its officials challenge to the Freedom of Access to

2 THE AMERICAN LIFE LEAGUE: “MORE INTERESTED IN MAKING A STATEMENT THAN MAKING A DIFFERENCE”

Clinic Entrances Act failed when, the following year, the Supreme Court TIMELINE refused to hear the case. During the 1996 presidential campaign, after even 1967 Judie, Paul Brown married. far-right Republicans Ralph Reed and 1979 Browns found ALL after breaking with National Right to Life Committee. William Bennett questioned a plank in 1980 Paul Brown, lawyer Sassone mount unsuccessful bid to force bishops to the Republican party platform calling for allow political activity on church grounds. a constitutional abortion ban, ALL doggedly agitated in favor of the plank.15 1981 Paul Marx founds Human Life International, with ALL claiming a role. At the end of the decade, ALL sought 1982 Judie Brown testifies in opposition to Title X, law providing health care for to expand, annexing a few smaller poor women. groups. Some remain within ALL, while 1987 ALL relationship with Congressman Robert Dornan (R-CA) begins, others left the league; one of the latter according to ALL. was Rachel’s Vineyard, which runs controversial “retreats” for women who 1994 ALL launches unsuccessful challenge to law ensuring free entry to have had abortions.16 reproductive health clinics. In January 2002, ALL’s stridency and 1996 Judie Brown backs presidential candidate of US Taxpayers Party, which inaccuracy led to the failure of a planned advocates creating paramilitary groups in US. advertising campaign. The league 1999 Richmond Times-Dispatch reports ex-ALL employee’s criticism of ALL produced ads to counter a Condoms4Life business dealings with Paul Brown’s company; “scandal” involves at least campaign promoting condom use for $18 million by 2004. HIV prevention.17 ALL vowed to place its ads “in the Washington, D.C., Metro, 2000 UN Economic and Social Council grants ALL special observer status. the Washington Times, and other national 2001 ALL’s STOPP International criticizes Planned Parenthood for offering free papers.”18 Catholics for a Free Choice services to New Yorkers after 9/11 attack. called attention to inaccuracies in the 2002 ALL produces inaccurate anticondom ad campaign, finds no one willing to ALL campaign and to unauthorized use publish the ads. of a photograph of CFFC president Frances Kissling.19 The conservative 2003 ALL raises baseball money to build “campus for life,” which has not Washington Times refused to publish the materialized. ALL ad, leaving Judie Brown to rage at ALL unsatisfied with passage of “partial-birth” abortion ban. National the newspaper and at CFFC in a press Right to Life Committee director Johnson on ALL: “I think they’re more interested in making a statement that making a difference.” release.20 Not only did the Times not run the ALL countercampaign, but there is ALL starts “Deadly Dozen” campaign seeking to demonize prochoice Catholic politicians. also no evidence the ALL advertisements appeared at Metro stations or in any 2004 Judie Brown challenges pope over bishops’ willingness to allow prochoice publication at all. ALL continues politicians to take communion, admonishes bishops to “pray about nonetheless to claim on its Web site that whether it’s time to step aside”; Washington archbishop rejects ALL’s it “responded with ads of its own” to the position. CFFC ads.21 ALL’s Crusade skirts violation of charity status, publishing list of The following year, ALL conducted a “proabortion” politicians next to instruction to vote against such “Battin’ 1000” campaign, intended to politicians. ALL: “Having a conscience, by itself, means nothing in particular.” harness baseball personalities’ money to build a “campus for life.”22 Once again, Charity Navigator gives ALL one of possible four stars for financial efficiency, capacity. the group proved unable to bring its plans to fruition. The campus never 2005 ALL taps Dornan to promote Right to Life Act. materialized. ALL board member Schepens warns of a coming European “civil war” over Also in 2003, ALL started the “Deadly Muslim immigration. Dozen” campaign, in which it sought— 2006 Judie Brown calls President George W. Bush a “wimp” for his refusal to often unsuccessfully, even in diocesan support the South Dakota move to challenge Roe v. Wade. newspapers—to publish advertisements denouncing prominent prochoice

3 OPPOSITION NOTES • AN INVESTIGATIVE SERIES

Catholic politicians. The advertisements Pontifical Academy for Life,29 a were criticized over their resemblance to seemingly honorary position for those a 1995 poster campaign of the same who “work in institutes and centers of name that followed several shootings of study on the culture of life.”30 A search of abortion providers and which publicized the academy’s extensive Web site finds doctors’ names and addresses.23 Brown mentioned only once, on the list In 2005, former US congressman of correspondents; her only concrete Robert Dornan began working for ALL academy-related activity, an online news to promote the Right to Life Act in search suggests, has been distributing Congress. academy statements in the US. Nevertheless, as Pope John Paul II named her twice to the academy, it III INDIVIDUALS appears that the Vatican leadership holds her in some regard. Judie Brown, president Judie Brown is the voice of ALL Brown, a Los Angeles native, became and, frequently, of the Crusade for the involved in the antichoice movement in Defense of Our Catholic Church, an the late 1960s.24 She and husband Paul in-house ALL affiliate. She admits little Brown met while both worked for complexity in the abortion debate or Kmart, were married in 1967 and related matters. Calling in 2004 for founded ALL in 1979. Judie Brown is a refusal of communion to prochoice stridently orthodox Catholic whose politicians, for example, she said, “There conservatism at times appears to surpass is no debate. There is no alternative. The even that of senior church officials. In truth does not change, regardless of 2004, for example, she challenged Pope politics.”31 John Paul II to account for two cardinals’ view that communion could rightly be Paul Brown, executive vice president and distributed to prochoice politicians.25 chief operating officer Paul Brown holds the controlling interest in the direct mail company Judie Brown is a stridently orthodox Catholic whose Anthony, Kane and Associates, with which ALL has transacted at least conservatism at times appears to surpass even that of $18 million in business since 1991. senior church officials. He and Judie Brown met at Kmart when she instructed him to punch a time card and he—as paraphrased in a 1981 ALL’s Web site indicates she has article—replied that she should “go to attended El Camino Junior College, the hell.” The same article characterizes him University of California Los Angeles and as a man who “boasts of being a male the “New York Management School.”26,27 chauvinist” and whose “decidedly pro- Brown is a lady of the Equestrian Order male-chauvinism” wife “brushes his hair, of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, a shines his shoes and fetches his coffee.” Vatican-tied group that speaks Paul Brown’s undiplomatic tendencies approvingly of the Crusades and may in part explain why—despite the condescendingly of “some chivalric couple’s professed support of “male orders whose membership is open to chauvinism”—she, and not he, is non-Catholics,”28 and a member of the president of ALL. He once said a woman Cardinal Newman Society, which who had been raped was “not the most harasses students and academics whom it beautiful creature in the world, so when I considers insufficiently conservative on hear her say she was raped, my response Catholic campuses. Brown is one of is, ‘You wish.’”32 about 80 correspondents of the Vatican’s

4 THE AMERICAN LIFE LEAGUE: “MORE INTERESTED IN MAKING A STATEMENT THAN MAKING A DIFFERENCE”

Robert Dornan, congressional 1980, Sassone worked with Paul Brown representative on a challenge to US Catholic bishops’ Former US congressman Robert refusal to allow antichoice political Dornan joined ALL in 2005 to aid the activities on church grounds. ALL touts league’s Capitol Hill efforts and in Sassone’s help in obtaining UN particular its support of a Right to Life Economic and Social Council Act.33 ALL says its relationship with (ECOSOC) special observer status for Dornan began in 1987,34 and ALL the league in 2000.39 Sassone’s wife, solicitation letters from the period bear Susan Sassone, was a member of ALL’s the congressman’s signature. In 1996, he original three-member board and in 1985 clashed with his party’s leadership when spearheaded an antichoice-referendum he sought in a Defense Department drive in California. He is a former authorization bill to ban gays and people official of Human Life International and with HIV from the services and to end of the defunct World Life League. pornography sales on bases.35 Dornan failed to win the Republican presidential Paul Marx, former board member nomination in 1996 and has lost several Father Marx, a major antichoice figure House races since then. Nicknamed “B-1 who is widely seen as anti-Semitic, in Bob” for his support of military 1981 founded Human Life International, spending, Dornan once referred to which lists ALL president Judie Brown as opponents as “lesbian spear-chuckers.”36 an adviser.40 A 1999 Catholic World Report article described “chronic rejection” of Philippe Schepens, board member HLI “by members of America’s Catholic Dr. Schepens is an ordinary of the hierarchy.”41 In an early example typical Pontifical Academy for Life37 and is of later statements, Marx wrote in 1977, secretary general of the World Federation of Doctors Who Respect Human Life. Nicknamed “B-1 Bob” for his support of military The Belgian has compared abortion with Nazism and often rails against the spending, Dornan once referred to opponents as degraded state of the modern world. “lesbian spear-chuckers.” The doctor appears to harbor vivid fears about Europe’s Muslim population. In a December 2005 post to another “It is a strange thing how many leaders writer’s blog, Schepens wrote that “many in the abortion movement are Jewish.”42 Muslims” in Belgium “consider our In 1980, St. John’s University in tolerance as weakness and hope to Minnesota cited “extreme” views in increase their number so that they get dismissing Marx from its Human Life finally the majority here.” Continued Center, which he had founded. His anti- Schepens, “I fear that, due to the lack of Semitic writings also appear to have led presence of their own educated people, St. Paul, Minnesota, archbishop Harry they will create new … leaders who will Flynn in 1997 to back out of a planned be much more radical Islamists than the concelebration of Mass.43 [ones] they had at home. … A later HLI in 1994 saw its nonprofit status emergence of major troubles, including a revoked in Canada after the government civil war, is not unthinkable in Western ruled it was engaging in political Europe’s future.”38 activities. Marx’s organization also failed repeatedly during the 1990s to gain Robert Sassone, board member NGO accreditation at the United Sassone is an attorney who in the Nations, with the world body at one 1980s defended Operation Rescue point rejecting HLI’s bid because of founder Randall Terry and others “attacks on Islam,” a stance “against the arrested in abortion-clinic protests. In purposes of the United Nations,”

5 OPPOSITION NOTES • AN INVESTIGATIVE SERIES

“aggressive language” and the “issue of harass them with phone calls and tolerance.” In one oft-reported mailings and conduct investigations into scandalous statement, antichoice activist their private lives.46 Don Treshman—who would later become HLI’s spokesman—called a 1994 sniper Tom Monaghan, former legal affairs director attack on a doctor a “superb tactic.”44 Monaghan is the founder of Domino’s Marx gave up his post as head of HLI Pizza and a former owner of baseball’s in 1999. It has been reported that his Detroit Tigers. A renowned right-wing resignation was not voluntary and that Catholic, Monaghan in 2005 began to other HLI leaders had come to view his publicize his $250 million plan to create extraordinary extremism as a liability. In a Florida town in which no one could sell addition, a board member’s letter to contraception or pornography and colleagues late in 1999 cited “accounting, Monaghan would control cable legal, and organizational problems” at television.47 In 2003, he supported ALL’s HLI under Marx. campaign for funds from baseball figures to build a “campus for life” in Virginia.48 Joseph Scheidler, former board member Monaghan has spent large sums of Pro-Life Action League founder money founding ultraorthodox Catholic Scheidler was an early advocate of schools. Speaking of traditional Catholic various abortion-clinic disruptions. A schools, Monaghan told the Wall Street promoter of “sidewalk counseling,” Journal, “Maybe it’s cockiness, but I think Scheidler was the defendant in a nearly I can do it better.”49

Kemper and other Operation Rescue members confronted an Bryan Kemper, Rock for Life founder Operation Rescue veteran Kemper abortion practitioner at his home so aggressively that an FBI founded the youth-focused antichoice probe ensued and a court settlement ultimately required the group Rock for Life, which joined ALL in the late 1990s. He left Rock for Life in antichoice activists to stay 45 feet away from the doctor’s 2003 and is now president of the “Christ- home and refrain from rifling through his garbage. centered youth prolife organization” Stand True Ministries, in Fredericksburg, Virginia.50 Rock for Life activities include two-decade-long National Organization obscure concerts, denunciations of for Women lawsuit over attempts to mainstream entertainment and obstruct clinics. distribution of pamphlets outside schools.51 In his 1985 book Closed: 99 Ways to In December 1994, Kemper and other Stop Abortion, Scheidler says “violence on Operation Rescue members confronted our part would be counterproductive” an abortion practitioner at his home so but expresses skepticism about clinics’ aggressively that an FBI probe ensued allegations of protester violence and and a court settlement ultimately appears to equate resistance to aggressive required the antichoice activists to stay protesters with the protesters’ own 45 feet away from the doctor’s home and crimes. Scheidler complains in the book refrain from rifling through his garbage. that an antichoice protester in New York The protesters had surrounded the “was jostled after he entered a New York doctor as he was leaving his San abortion clinic, spilled gasoline on the Bernardino County, California, home, property and set the clinic ablaze.” “The resulting in an altercation in which the only one who suffered injury,” writes doctor said he was pushed and left with Scheidler of the arsonist, “was the bruises.52 antiabortionist.”45 Scheidler also “If abortion were made illegal recommends in the book that antichoice tomorrow,” Kemper said in 1999, “our activists “adopt” abortion practitioners— work would be far from done.”53 He sells

6 THE AMERICAN LIFE LEAGUE: “MORE INTERESTED IN MAKING A STATEMENT THAN MAKING A DIFFERENCE”

his aggressive stance with an elaborate inflammatory implications of his tale of personal triumph over dire analogies: If his “killing spree” childhood circumstances. He said in description was widely used, he said in 1997, “I was born out of wedlock, I was the 2001 speech, “People would be very sick as an infant, I had spinal recruited. People would be mobilized … meningitis, they said I had severe brain to make sure that everything that was damage, they put me in the Special possible was done to make sure this Olympics as a kid, they said I was didn’t happen again.”58 retarded [and] they always told me I was worthless, I was dumb. By the time I was James Berlucchi, former Battin’ 1000 13, I was already doing drugs. … I went president through hell as a child, but I am happy Gospel musician and business that I was not aborted.”54 consultant Berlucchi was paid $114,000 by ALL in 2003 to serve as president of James Sedlak, STOPP International the league’s campaign to harness founder and executive director baseball money for construction of a Sedlak leads STOPP International, which is ALL’s campaign to “shut down” Planned Parenthood. He provides news An independent charity watchdog recently rated ALL as poor commentary for the USA Radio for efficiency and worse for capacity. Network, headed by Christian Right radio personality Marlin Maddoux, and contributes material to HLI reports. In “campus for life.”59 The campus never 2006, Sedlak said a South Dakota materialized, and the project appears to abortion ban was imperfect because it have been abandoned. Berlucchi has did not also ban contraception.55 served as head of Legatus, Tom Monaghan’s exclusive Catholic David Bereit, STOPP national director executives’ group.60 He has been called STOPP International’s national head “the first Catholic to play a high-profile since 2005, Bereit led a late-1990s role in several Promise Keepers rallies.”61 campaign that helped make Bryan, Texas, “the most antichoice place in the nation,” in the words of former Planned IV FINANCES Parenthood president Gloria Feldt.56 The former pharmaceutical salesman’s An independent charity watchdog Coalition for Life, however, failed to force recently rated ALL as poor for efficiency Planned Parenthood out of Bryan.57 and worse for capacity. ALL spends On a Web site Bereit maintains to millions of dollars on publications and promote his availability as a motivational mailings, with a substantial portion of speaker for conservative groups, he has business going to ALL chief operating posted a videotaped speech in which he officer Paul Brown’s direct mail firm. uses taped gunshot sounds to punctuate Former ALL employee Stephen Dunham his description of an abortion “killing has accused the Browns of enriching spree,” likening abortions to shootings themselves through this arrangement, at and—just months after September 11, the expense of the group’s mission. 2001—equating practitioners with In 2004, the watchdog Charity terrorists. In the same speech, Bereit Navigator awarded ALL one star on a refers to abortion clinics as “strategic four-star scale for overall financial health. locations” and to facilities where abortion That overall assessment reflected a rating practitioners are trained as “training for capacity of one star—with a score of camps.” Although Bereit never advocates only 7.35 of 30—and a two-star rating for violence, it is hard to ignore the efficiency.62 Tax filings provide some of

7 OPPOSITION NOTES • AN INVESTIGATIVE SERIES

the numbers behind the unenthusiastic total payments to the firm from 1991 to report and show that ALL continued to 2004 were at least $18 million.63 spend millions of dollars at Paul Brown’s A 1999 Richmond Times-Dispatch article company. raised questions about ALL’s dealings ALL in 2004 reported nearly $7 with Anthony, Kane. In yearly million in revenue and spent just over $5 increments of between $1.1 million and million on program activities, over $2.5 million, the Times-Dispatch reported, $800,000 in management costs and ALL had conducted at least $12.5 million almost $900,000 on fundraising. The in business with Anthony, Kane between league named “dissemination of 1991 and 1997. Paul Brown told the educational materials” as its largest newspaper that ALL jobs constituted accomplishment, having spent more than about 20 percent of Anthony, Kane $4 million for the purpose. Reported business and that he made no ALL expenses included at least $3 million, decisions that benefited his company. listed under various categories, in Judie Brown said she abstained from publication- and mailing-related activities. ALL board votes on Anthony, Kane In 2004, ALL reported paying at least business and that ALL took comparative $61,000 each to four of its five board bids to avoid overpaying the firm. members, with Judie Brown topping the Experts said the ALL-Anthony, Kane list at more than $100,000. Direct mail dealings appeared unusual but not manager Margaret Guellich was paid illegal.64 $113,000, and ALL reported eight other The newspaper also reported that employees as making at least $50,000 former ALL publications manager each. Lawyer Marion Harrisson, the only Dunham had “complained to the IRS independent contractor ALL reported, and elsewhere that the Browns [had] was paid nearly $80,000. allegedly been personally enriching themselves through the league’s transactions with Mr. Brown and his Former ALL publications manager Dunham had “complained business interests.” Dunham called the arrangement “a scandal.” “So much to the IRS and elsewhere that the Browns [had] allegedly money is being squandered,” Dunham been personally enriching themselves through the league’s said. Paul Brown called the former 65 transactions with Mr. Brown and his business interests.” employee “bitter.” Anthony, Kane caters, predominantly Dunham called the arrangement “a scandal.” and perhaps exclusively, to Catholic groups. These include Catholic Relief Services, the Legionaries of Christ and ALL reported spending $1.25 million the Sacred Hearts Missions.66 on “direct mail”—writing that term in, ALL’s lobbying and political since is not included as such in the expenditures are strictly limited by law. standard categories of functional 501 (c) (3) charitable organizations such expenses. Of that amount, the league as ALL may not engage in direct support listed $970,000 as program services and for candidates or campaigns. ALL vows only $280,000 as fundraising, the usual in its articles of incorporation that “no purpose of direct mail. substantial part of [its] activities … shall The league’s direct mail business be the carrying on of propaganda or appears to go almost entirely to Paul otherwise attempting to influence Brown’s Anthony, Kane and Associates. legislation.” Some of the group’s In 2003, ALL paid $1.4 million to the activities appear to violate at least the firm, in which Paul Brown holds the spirit of those commitments. controlling interest. It was the lowest A link on the Web site of ALL’s such figure since at least 2001. ALL’s Crusade for the Defense of Our Catholic

8 THE AMERICAN LIFE LEAGUE: “MORE INTERESTED IN MAKING A STATEMENT THAN MAKING A DIFFERENCE”

Church leads to a list of “proabortion scientific evidence that proves that a Catholics in Congress.” An adjacent link human being does not exist at goes to a “Statement on Political fertilization.”73 Action”67 instructing readers to base votes So intensely does ALL oppose all “first” on the “non-negotiable … life contraception that in 2000, when the issues.”68 The links are a clear appeal for Food and Drug Administration indicated votes against “proabortion” lawmakers. it could allow birth-control-pill sales over ALL has in recent years pushed for the the counter, Judie Brown called it “the confirmation of Supreme Court justices most dangerous announcement a US John Roberts and Samuel Alito and government agency has made in recent condemned prochoice Catholic memory.”74 “Study after study shows that legislators in a recurring “Deadly Dozen” birth-control use always leads to more campaign. In 2005, ALL announced that abortion,” she wrote in a June 2005 former US representative Robert Dornan commentary.75 Although Brown did not was “joining American Life League’s make reference to specific figures, ALL efforts to protect and defend the lives of appears at times to count contraception preborn children,” firstly by “refocusing use as abortion. ALL espouses the attention on the Right to Life Act discredited view that emergency introduced by Duncan Hunter (R- contraception is not contraception but Calif.).”69 ALL reported no lobbying abortion. In 2006, amid growing expenses in 2004 or 2003, after reporting controversy over new antiabortion $83,000 in 2002, $107,000 in 2001 and pushes in various US states, STOPP $147,000 in 2000. International executive director James ALL’s net assets as of 2004 were $2.14 Sedlak called a South Dakota abortion million.70 County figures show its ban inadequate because it did not also Virginia headquarters covers 1.2 acres ban contraception.76 and, when last assessed, had a taxable As part of a campaign to “educate Bill value of $949,000.71 ALL receives no Gates” about “population elimination” government grants and reports no practices by Gates-backed charities, Judie membership fees. Brown in 1999 called for a massive drive to increase world population. “Children all over the world need to know that V ISSUES they should have large families. It is the only hope for the future of the world,” ALL aggressively promotes extreme she said.77 (The following year, ALL positions on what it calls “life issues”— claimed that its prayer campaign abortion, euthanasia, stem-cell research targeting Gates was behind the court- and cloning—and on contraception and a ordered breakup of Microsoft.78) Such an wide range of religious, social and extreme pronatalist position places cultural matters. Brown at the fringe of the antichoice The league believes abortion is movement and raises questions about her murder and that a legal person is created views on pregnancy and its relation to at fertilization. It seeks an abortion ban women’s role in society. without any exception, even if a Judie Brown displayed a rigid concept woman’s life is threatened. “Once of sex and gender when quoted in a fertilization has taken place, there is no 2006 article about a teacher who had had more ‘egg.’ A new tiny person has been a sex change: “The sex of the human formed,” ALL says.72 To defend such being is determined … when that human positions, ALL often employs a strange being is but a single cell.”92 Brown also mix of scientific language, Catholic has claimed Planned Parenthood creates teaching and suspect logic. In 2000, Judie young people’s sex drives. “Teens are not Brown said the league was “aware of no biologically programmed to have sex as

9 OPPOSITION NOTES • AN INVESTIGATIVE SERIES

much as they’re indoctrinated to do so,” Ostensible allies have slammed ALL’s she wrote in 2006. extremism. “Valuable and practical ALL has referred to “antifertility prolife legislation never seems to vaccines, the next step in the attack on measure up to their standard,” said human procreation”79 and called human National Right to Life Committee embryonic stem-cell research “always legislative director Douglas Johnson. “I immoral and unethical.”80 think they’re more interested in making a Such positions place ALL at the right statement than making a difference.”91 wing of the antichoice movement, a ALL professes strict loyalty to Vatican distinction it embraces. The group has teachings and rejects any Catholic criticized, as too soft on abortion or other debate on its issues. ALL’s positions are subjects, the George W. Bush indistinguishable from those of its administration,81 the near-totality of the Crusade. The league believes Catholics US Congress,82 the National Right to Life should work to enshrine Vatican Council,83 Wal-Mart,84 the Christian positions in US law, and it harangues US Coalition,85 Catholic universities,86 Rush bishops whose interpretations of Rome’s Limbaugh and the Walt Disney Co.87 In policies differ from ALL’s. Since the 2004, it called on Pope John Paul II to hierarchy teaches that abortion is wrong, explain why cardinals Joseph Ratzinger— ALL said in 2003, US law should forbid later Pope Benedict XVI—and Theodore the practice, and prochoice Catholics are McCarrick had said communion could simply “wrong.”93 be given to prochoice politicians. US The league appears at times to see bishops, Judie Brown wrote in 2004, are itself as outranking even church officials, loath to criticize Catholic Democrats’ particularly as pertains to the distribution prochoice views, because the bishops of communion. Commenting in April “are the grandsons of immigrants who 2004 in support of ALL’s position that always voted Democrat.”88 papal pronouncements supported withholding the sacrament, Judie Brown The league believes Catholics should work to enshrine said, “The pope has spoken. What’s the holdup?” Bishops who do not deny Vatican positions in US law, and it harangues US bishops communion to prochoice politicians, she whose interpretations of Rome’s policies differ from ALL’s. wrote, “need to pray about whether it’s time to step aside.”94 An ALL advertising campaign the following month slammed When the Senate in March 2003 passed Washington archbishop Cardinal a bill to ban “partial-birth” abortion, ALL Theodore McCarrick for saying he was voiced only grudging satisfaction. Judie not “comfortable” refusing communion Brown said that with the “partial-birth” to public figures: The advertisement campaign over, “our elected officials can depicted Jesus on the cross and asked, focus on solving the real problem: “Cardinal McCarrick: Are you legalized abortion in any form. … The comfortable now?”95 debate over partial-birth abortion has Church leaders that campaign year sidetracked the primary goals of the sought distance from ALL. In comments prolife movement.”89 Even overturning that incurred ALL’s wrath, McCarrick Roe v. Wade, ALL said in 2004, is an said, “I’m not going to do it. I’m not insufficient goal, because it would not going to ask my priests to do it. … We “guarantee” a nationwide abortion ban. should have no confrontation at the The league said “decay from within”—the altar.”96 McCarrick spokeswoman Susan unwillingness of antichoice groups to hold Gibbs added, in response to the ALL positions as categorical as those of ALL— advertisements, that the cardinal was “could spell the end of what we have “very comfortably in communion with known as the prolife movement.”90 the church on this issue.”

10 THE AMERICAN LIFE LEAGUE: “MORE INTERESTED IN MAKING A STATEMENT THAN MAKING A DIFFERENCE”

A 2003 episode illustrates the league’s a culture war and has often criticized precarious position with respect to mainstream institutions’ morality. The church officials. In a direct mail league in 1995 condemned Walt Disney campaign, the league attacked the Co. for animated movies “filled with conservative National Catholic Register sexual imagery”—for example, a dust after the newspaper, citing Vatican cloud in The Lion King that purportedly guidelines, refused a “Deadly Dozen” spelled out “sex.”102 Animators have been advertisement. The paper still expressed known to hide ribald references in their support for the campaign and offered to work, but even the Catholic News Service’s run it with minor changes; ALL film reviewer, Henry Herx, said, “I don’t nonetheless accused the paper of having think this has national importance.”103 “more respect for the political power of The Web site of ALL affiliate Rock for fraudulent Catholics” than for “the Life provides a cautionary list of spiritual power of Holy Mother Church “proabortion bands” and “other and the Vicar of Christ, Pope John Paul entertainers” of concern, whose II!” In an exchange of letters published productions young people should in the Register, publisher Father Owen presumably avoid. Some earned their Kearns sought reconciliation but still place on the list by simple attendance at called ALL’s mailing “injurious and a march. A few are antichoice figures extremely unprofessional.” The mailing, who hold less extreme positions than he added, “puts American Life League in those of ALL. The list includes the the ridiculous position of equating an ad Catholic ultraconservative Mel Gibson, with the magisterium of the church.” director of “The Passion of the Christ”; ALL’s guide for the 2004 US elections prochoice figures with broad mainstream instructed voters not to vote for any appeal, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger candidate who supported any legal and Bruce Springsteen, are also named.104 abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem-cell research or human cloning.97 The league did not address what voters should do if VI AFFILIATES no candidates in a race categorically opposed all four practices, but Judie ALL promotes three main in-house Brown wrote that George W. Bush divisions: the youth-centered Rock for appeared “more prolife” than John Kerry Life, the anti-Planned Parenthood and that voters should pray for “prudence campaign STOPP International and the to do what can be done, given the moral Crusade for the Defense of Our Catholic vacuum created for the politicians by a Church. lack of resolve on the part of far too Rock for Life, headed by Erik many in the prolife movement.”98 The Whittington, is an antichoice guide stressed obedience: “Having a counterpoint to the mainstream Rock for conscience, by itself, means nothing in Choice. Founded by Operation Rescue particular,” ALL wrote.99 veteran Bryan Kemper, Rock for Life In 1996, Judie Brown backed US stages abortion-clinic protests, distributes Taxpayers Party presidential candidate pamphlets outside high schools, produces Howard Phillips, an antichoice extremist. concerts and recordings, runs The Taxpayers platform called for informational booths at cultural events paramilitary militias in the United and warns against supporting prochoice States.100 Judie Brown said in a Wanderer entertainers.105 Rock for Life claims article, “Sometimes, when we have only support mainly from pointedly two candidates in the field, we have no “Christian” entertainers.106 By contrast, choice but to vote for the ‘lesser of two Rock for Choice was founded by the evils.’ That is not the case in 1996.”101 influential punk group L7, and its ALL sees its antichoice work as part of concerts have featured Pearl Jam, Rage

11 OPPOSITION NOTES • AN INVESTIGATIVE SERIES

Against the Machine, Nirvana and other The group has condemned late US superstars.107 president John F. Kennedy for his vow to STOPP International, led by James “keep his Catholic faith out of his public Sedlak and David Bereit, seeks to end service.” A list of abortion statistics was funding for Planned Parenthood. “We included in one such advertisement, with intend to cause such discontent with “JFK” printed in bold beside each. Planned Parenthood programs that it will According to Crusade, “The ultimate have no choice but to close its doors and political goal for Catholics must be the get out of town!” the group says on its achievement of public policies and laws Web site.108 Each year, STOPP posts a that result in the legal protection of all “survey” of Planned Parenthood facilities innocent human life.”115 around the United States that includes Celebrate Life is ALL’s antichoice wild allegations—for example, that magazine, “America’s favorite family- Planned Parenthood of America friendly, prolife periodical.”116 ALL promotes promiscuity and pornography claims to send the magazine to “over and covers up for rapists and sex 70,000 prolife homes”117—a figure that, abusers.109 according to the Audit Bureau of STOPP in 2006 launched Circulations, would exceed the average stopplannedparenthoodtaxfunding.com, circulation of the New Republic 118 or the a brief online screed and petition asking Christian Science Monitor.119 “all elected officials to ensure that The league maintains a roster of more Planned Parenthood receives absolutely than 70 US associate groups. Web searches suggest many are inactive or ALL is chronically unable to make common cause exist in name only. The remainder include a Blount County, California, with natural allies in the Catholic hierarchy and in group that asks whether the September the conservative and antichoice movements. 2001 al-Qaeda attacks were a warning from God120; Catholics Respect Life of Keller, Texas, which runs a “Youth for no taxpayer dollars.” The site screams, Life Boot Camp”121; and Expectant “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!” and says Mother Care, which New York state Planned Parenthood’s “top goal … is to investigated for allegedly deceiving push its agenda of promiscuous sex women into thinking it provided everywhere in our society.”110 In 2001, abortion services.122 STOPP criticized Planned Parenthood for offering free services in New York after the World Trade Center attack.111 VII CONCLUSION STOPP views US society as degraded and advocates conservative Christian ALL is, as the saying goes, all hat and no belief as a basis for public policy. In cattle. It appears unable to deliver on 2005, it said the 1965 Griswold v. many of its promises, carry out its plans Connecticut decision “set the stage for the or advance its agenda. This is hardly growth of moral relativism and hedonism surprising, since the league’s positions in this once-great Christian nation.”112 are at the extreme right edge of the The Crusade for the Defense of Our antichoice spectrum and far beyond what Catholic Church, headed by Joseph even most conservative Americans want. Starrs, promotes Catholic orthodoxy and ALL is chronically unable to make antichoice advocacy. Its Web site contains common cause with natural allies in the a prominently featured list of Catholic hierarchy and in the “proabortion Catholics in congress,”113 conservative and antichoice movements. and it calls on voters to make opposition Even under the antichoice George W. to abortion their first political priority.114 Bush administration, the league has kept

12 THE AMERICAN LIFE LEAGUE: “MORE INTERESTED IN MAKING A STATEMENT THAN MAKING A DIFFERENCE”

up a torrent of criticism of the US especially when one considers the government, calling President Bush a questions that have been raised about the “wimp” for failing to endorse a 2006 propriety of its business dealings. South Dakota bill that banned all ALL’s goals are ambitious—the abortion without exception.123 movement ALL envisions will “dictate to The list of those criticized by ALL politicians,” Judie Brown has said—but includes not only prochoice advocates rarely if ever reached. Planned but also virtually everyone else involved construction projects are never built; in the abortion debate in any capacity. advertising campaigns are produced but So far to the right is Judie Brown’s never placed. Extraordinary extremism organization that it has found itself usually appears to be a major factor in condemning such reactionary entities the failures. and people as the Christian Coalition, The league’s likelihood of success is Rush Limbaugh and the National Right tiny. ALL’s poor and shady finances, its to Life Committee, not to mention senior long record of impotency and its inability officials in the church whose teachings to gather and keep allies mean that it ALL claims strictly to practice. poses no serious challenge to choice. Conservative targets of ALL criticism The Browns will no doubt continue have regularly fired back, scorning the their “moral crusade” indefinitely, but league as marginal and out of touch. on the political and religious fronts, they ALL’s finances have consistently been seem not to have what it takes to make rated as poor, a reality that undoubtedly things happen. also hampers the group’s effectiveness,

13 OPPOSITION NOTES • AN INVESTIGATIVE SERIES

Notes 18 American Life League, “ALL Ad Campaign Will 31 American Life League, “Durbin’s Senate Survey Expose Kissling’s Attacks on Catholic Bishops,” Misses the Point: You Can’t Be Catholic and press release, January 15, 2002. Proabortion,” press release, June 3, 2004. 1 Alan Cooperman, “Ad Assails DC Cardinal for Stance on Communion,” Washington Post, 19 Catholics for a Free Choice, “CFFC: Anti- 32 Lewis, “A Couple’s Pro-Life Campaign.” May 7, 2004. Contraception Group Tries to Place Irresponsible Anti-Condom Ads in District of Columbia Metro 33 American Life League, “Bob Dornan, 2 Frances Kissling to Ming Chin, May 7, 2003, System,” press release, January 18, 2002. Congressional Veteran, To Lead ALL’s Efforts on on file. Capitol Hill,” press release, October 13, 2005. 20 American Life League, “American Life League: 3 Judie Brown, letter to the editor, National Catholic Anti-Catholic Bigots Bully the Washington 34 American Life League, “About ALL: Timeline.” Register, November 17-23, 2002. Times,” press release, January 22, 2002. 35 “Rep. Dornan in a Quarrel with GOP 4 American Life League, “American Life League 21 American Life League, “Catholics for a Free Leadership,” USA Today, July 27, 1996. Asks: What Part of ‘Emergency Contraception’ Is Choice,” http://www.all.org/ Not Abortion?” press release, September 3, 1998. article.php?id=10070 (accessed April 13, 2006). 36 Mike Anton and Daniel Yi, “Has Dornan’s Bluster Lost Its Luster?” Los Angeles Times, 5 Gillian Kane, The American Life League Enters 22 “Yount, Bando, Gantner Help Antiabortion February 26, 2004. Mexico: Recruiting Antichoice Activists for US Right- Group,” Associated Press, April 18, 2003. Wing Goals (New York: Institute for Democracy 37 Pontifical Academy for Life, “Staff and Members.” Studies, 1999), 6. 23 Dakota Smith, “‘The Deadly Dozen’ Echo in Antichoice Campaign,” Women’s eNews, 38 Philippe Schepens, comment posted to Globalog: 6 William Murray, “Drawing Hard Lines in the April 21, 2003, http://www.womensenews.org/ Muqtedar Khan’s Blog, December 17, 2005, Battle against Abortion,” National Catholic article.cfm/dyn/aid/1300 (accessed March 24, http://www.ijtihad.org/2005/12/beggars-in- Register, September 21-27, 1997. 2006). hijab-in-heart-of-eurabia.html (accessed March 24, 2006). 7 American Life League, “About ALL: FAQs,” 24 Stephanie Salter, “Now Hear Judie Brown, Who http://www.all.org/about_faqs.php (accessed Says Bush Isn’t Prolife,” San Francisco Chronicle, 39 American Life League, “ALL Board of Directors,” March 24, 2006). August 22, 2001. http://www.all.org/article.php?id=10044 (accessed March 24, 2006). 8 United Nations Economic and Social Council, 25 Judie Brown, “The Road to Hell is Paved “NGOs in Consultative Status with ECOSOC,” With the Skulls of Bishops,” Washington 40 Human Life International, “About Human Life July 25, 2005, http://www.un.org/esa/ Dispatch, September 17, 2004, International,” http://www.hli.org/about_us.html coordination/ngo/pdf/INF_List.pdf (accessed http://www.washingtondispatch.com/ (accessed March 24, 2006). March 24, 2006). printer_10092.shtml (accessed March 27, 2006). 41 Michael S. Rose, “Behind Enemy Lines,” Catholic 9 David Bereit, “Fight Planned Parenthood 26 American Life League, “Judie Brown,” World Report, August-September 1997. and Win,” 12 min., 22 sec. RAM, http://www.all.org/article.php?id=10058 http://www.davidbereit.com/assets/videos/ (accessed March 31, 2006). 42 Stephen J. Scheinberg, “Importing hatred and fightpp100.ram (accessed March 27, 2006). bigotry,” Canadian Dimension, June 1995. 27 It is unclear to what institution ALL refers as the 10 American Life League, “About ALL: President’s “New York Management School,” since the 43 Rose, “Behind Enemy Lines.” Welcome,” http://www.all.org/ term—other than in reference to Judie Brown’s about_president.php (accessed March 24, 2006). education—generates no Yahoo! Web hits or 44 Frederick Clarkson, “Far-right politics threaten; Nexis news hits. A 1988 New York Times article Anti-abortion extremists’ activities ignored at 11 Pat Lewis, “A Couple’s Pro-Life Campaign,” refers to a “State University of New York nation’s peril,” Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette, Washington Star, April 23, 1981. management school” at that university system’s March 24, 2000. Stony Brook campus, but neither the Times nor 12 Kane, American Life League, 6. any other source listed by Nexis appears to have 45 Joseph Scheidler, Closed: 99 Ways to Stop used that term at any other time. Stony Brook Abortion (Rockford, Illinois: Tan, 1985), 13 American Life League, “About ALL: Timeline,” University, as the former SUNY Stony Brook is http://www.prolifeaction.org/about/closed81.htm http://www.all.org/about_timeline.php (accessed now known, at this writing has no “management (accessed March 27, 2006). March 24, 2006). school” but does have a College of Business and offer various undergraduate and graduate 46 Ibid. 14 Deborah Friedman, “America’s Family Planning business programs. Program: Title X” (Washington: Planned 47 Mark Oppenheimer, “Pizza My Heart,” Slate, Parenthood Federation of America, 2005), 28 Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of March 14, 2006, http://www.slate.com/ http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/portal/ Jerusalem, North Central Lieutenancy, id/2138085 (accessed March 22, 2006). files/portal/medicalinfo/birthcontrol/fact- USA, “The Equestrian Order: History,” 030301-titlex.xml (accessed March 24, 2006). http://www.holysepulchre.net/portal/content.asp 48 American Life League, “Join All-Stars Sal Bando, ?CatId=230&ContentType=General (accessed Scott Sanderson, Diamondbacks CEO Jerry 15 People for the American Way, “Right Wing March 31, 2006). Colangelo and Others for Battin’ 1000’s Season Organizations: American Life League,” Opener,” press release, February 13, 2003. http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx? 29 Pontifical Academy for Life, “Staff and oid=3792 (accessed March 24, 2006). Members,” http://www.academiavita.org/ 49 Lisa Miller, “Domino’s Monaghan Wants to english/ChiSiamo/organico.html (accessed Revive Old Catholicism,” Wall Street Journal, June 16 Rachel’s Vineyard, “About Rachel’s Vineyard,” March 24, 2006). 20, 2000. http://www.rachelsvineyard.org/media/ about.htm (accessed March 27, 2006). 30 Holy See, “Pontifical Academies for Science, 50 Stand True Ministries, “About Us,” Social Sciences, Life,” http://www.vatican.va/ http://www.standtrue.com/pages/aboutus.html 17 Condoms4Life is a campaign initiated by roman_curia/pontifical_academies/acdlife/ (accessed March 31, 2006). Catholics for a Free Choice in 2001 documents/rc_pa_acdlife_pro_20051996_en.html (www.condoms4life.org). (accessed May 12, 2006). 51 American Life League, “About Rock for Life,” http://www.rockforlife.org/html/about.html (accessed March 27, 2006).

14 THE AMERICAN LIFE LEAGUE: “MORE INTERESTED IN MAKING A STATEMENT THAN MAKING A DIFFERENCE”

52 Elyssa Getreu, “Antiabortion Protesters, Federal 70 Charity Navigator, “American Life League.” 91 Kissling to Ming Chin. Prosectors to Settle Case,” City News Service, January 25, 1996. 71 Stafford County, Virginia, Commissioner 92 Warren Mass, “‘Sex Education’ Redefined?” New of the Revenue, “Summary,” American, March 2, 2006. 53 Tamara Jones, “The Children’s Crusade,” http://staffordvapropertymax.governmaxa.com/ Washington Post Magazine, April 18, 1999. propertymax/rover30.asp?sid=44049CC15A6D 93 American Life League, “Communique,” 4076A6D36DF4584AEA21 (accessed March 27, August 22, 2003, http://www.all.org/ 54 Paul Norton, “Madison Schools Become 2006). communiqué/cq030822.htm (accessed August Antiabortion Battlefront,” Capital Times 25, 2003). (Madison, Wisconsin), March 6, 1997. 72 American Life League, “Issues: Birth Control,” http://www.all.org/article.php?id=10125 94 American Life League, “Rome Says No 55 Bonnie Erbe, “The antiabortion T-shirt is here—is (accessed March 27, 2006). Communion for Proabortion Catholics,” press the no-birth-control bumper sticker next?” U.S. release, April 26, 2004. News & World Report, April 24, 2006. 73 American Life League, “NIH Cited for Misinformation in Stem Cell Research Draft 95 Cooperman, “Ad Assails DC Cardinal.” 56 American Life League, “Newest Member of Guidelines,” press release, January 5, 2000. STOPP International Team to Take Planned 96 American Life League, “Ad Implores Cardinal to Parenthood Battle to the Next Level,” press 74 American Life League, “American Life League: Take Road Less Traveled,” press release, release, March 14, 2005. FDA More Irresponsible Than Ever,” press June 3, 2004. release, May 1, 2000. 57 American Life League, “Our National Director,” 97 American Life League, “American Life League http://www.all.org/stopp/natdir.htm (accessed 75 Judie Brown, “Ribald Rhetoric,” Conservative voter’s guide,” http://www.all.org/crusade/ March 27, 2006). Voice, June 23, 2005, voterguide.htm (accessed May 12, 2006). http://www.theconservativevoice.com/ 58 Bereit, “Fight Planned Parenthood.” articles/article.html?storyid=6467 (accessed 98 Judie Brown, “So what do I do on Election March 27, 2006). Day?” Pro-Life Bulletin Board, October 2004. 59 “Yount, Bando, Gantner,” Associated Press. 76 Erbe, “The antiabortion T-shirt is here.” 99 American Life League, “American Life League 60 C Results, “Mission,” http://www.cresults.org/ Voter’s Guide,” http://www.all.org/crusade/ CRmission.htm (accessed March 27, 2006). 77 American Life League, “ALL Gives Bill Gates voterguide.htm (accessed March 27, 2006). His First Population Control Lesson,” press 61 Terry Mattingly, “Catholics Begin to Hear release, September 15, 1999. 100 Kane, American Life League . Promise Keepers Call,” Knoxville News-Sentinel, October 4, 1997. 78 American Life League, “ALL Heightens Campaign 101 “Judie Brown Endorses Phillips for President,” against Bill Gates,” press release, July 21, 2000. Wanderer, October 10, 1996. 62 Charity Navigator, “American Life League,” http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm? 79 American Life League, “Issues: Birth Control.” 102 Aly Sujo, “Sex in Disney Toons? ‘Ridiculous,’ bay=my.tools.income&orgid=3273 (accessed Says Company,” Reuters, September 1, 1995. March 27, 2006). 80 American Life League, “California Faces Fiscal, Moral Bankruptcy with Proposition 71 Stem-Cell 103 Brian Blomquist, “Christian Group Blasts ‘Sex’ 63 The actual figure is almost certainly higher. Initiative,” press release, November 3, 2004. Scene in ‘Lion King,’” Washington Times, Amounts were not available as of this writing for September 1, 1995. certain years in which ALL indicated it 81 American Life League, “Bush Wins Again; Will continued to do business with the firm. the Babies Ever Win?” press release, November 104 American Life League, “Rock for Life,” Extrapolating yearly averages to fill in these 3, 2004. http://www.rockforlife.org/html/index.html gaps, it is estimated that ALL has since 1991 (accessed March 27, 2006). conducted about $25 million in business with 82 Murray, “Drawing Hard Lines.” Anthony, Kane. 105 American Life League, “About Rock for Life.” 83 American Life League, “ALL: Why Won’t 64 Christine Neuberger, “ALL, Husband’s Business NRLC Specifically Oppose Abortion in the 106 American Life League, “Prolife Bands,” Linked,” Richmond Times-Dispatch, March 14, 1999. Form of Morning-After Pills?” press release, http://www.rockforlife.org/html/music_ April 10, 2001. prolifebands.html (accessed March 27, 2006). 65 Christine Neuberger, “Fighting ‘Evil’: ALL in a Day’s Work,” Richmond Times-Dispatch, March 84 American Life League, “ALL Launches National 107 Feminist Majority Foundation, “Take 14, 1999. Campaign to Stop Wal-Mart’s Abortion-Referral Action: What is Rock for Choice?” Service,” press release, June 9, 2000. http://www.feminist.org/rock4c/ (accessed 66 AKA Direct Mail Marketing Services, “Sampling,” March 27, 2006). http://www.aka1.com/sampling.html (accessed 85 American Life League, “Testing Rhetoric against March 27, 2006). Reality,” press release, May 20, 1995. 108 American Life League, “STOPP: Our Mission,” http://www.all.org/stopp/mission.htm (accessed 67 American Life League, “Crusade for the Defense 86 “Addenda,” National Catholic Reporter, March 27, 2006). of Our Catholic Church,” http://all.org/ December 18, 1998. crusade/index.htm (accessed March 27, 2006). 109 American Life League, “New STOPP National 87 “ALL Scores Limbaugh’s Decision to Reject Ad Survey Exposes Planned Parenthood Abortion 68 American Life League, “Catholic Leadership Opposing ‘Priest,’” Wanderer, April 27, 1995. Business,” press release, January 5, 2006, Conference Statement on Political Action,” http://www.all.org/stopp/st060105.htm (accessed http://all.org/crusade/clc.htm (accessed March 88 Brown, “Road to Hell.” March 27, 2006). 27, 2006). 89 American Life League, “Partial-Birth Infanticide 110 STOPP International, “Stop Planned Parenthood 69 American Life League, “Bob Dornan to Lead Bill Passes; Now, Here’s the Good News,” press Tax Funding,” ALL’s Efforts on Capitol Hill,” press release, release, March 13, 2003. http://www.stopplannedparenthood October 11, 2005, http://www.all.org/ taxfunding.com/ (accessed April 17, 2006). article.php?id=10606 (accessed March 27, 2006). 90 American Life League, “Bush Wins Again.”

15 OPPOSITION NOTES • AN INVESTIGATIVE SERIES

111 American Life League, “ALL Says, ‘Defend America, De-Fund Planned Parenthood,’” press CATHOLICS FOR A FREE CHOICE release, October 8, 2001.

112 American Life League, “The Grim Legacy of Griswold v. Connecticut,” press release, Catholics for a Free Choice (CFFC) shapes and advances sexual and reproductive June 7, 2005. ethics that are based on justice, reflect a commitment to women’s well-being and 113 American Life League, “Proabortion Catholics respect and affirm the moral capacity of women and men to make sound in Congress,” http://all.org/crusade/ decisions about their lives. Through discourse, education and advocacy, CFFC congress.htm (accessed March 27, 2006). works in the United States and internationally to infuse these values into public 114 American Life League, “Catholic Leadership policy, community life, feminist analysis and Catholic social thinking and teaching. Conference Statement.”

115 Ibid. PRESIDENT For further information, please Frances Kissling contact: 116 American Life League, “Celebrate Life Magazine: Home,” http://www.clmagazine.org/ (accessed March 27, 2006). EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Catholics for a Free Choice 1436 U Street NW, Suite 301 117 Jon O’Brien American Life League, “Celebrate Life Magazine: Washington, DC 20009 USA Advertising,” http://www.clmagazine.org/ advertising.html (accessed March 27, 2006). BOARD OF DIRECTORS T: +1 (202) 986 6093 F: +1 (202) 332 7995 118 Marysa Navarro-Aranguren, Ph.D. Audit Bureau of Circulations, “Consumer W: www.catholicsforchoice.org Magazines,” http://abcas3.accessabc.com/ chairperson E: [email protected] ecirc/magform.asp (accessed March 27, 2006). Sheila Briggs, M.A.

119 Audit Bureau of Circulations, “Newspapers,” Patricia Carbine http://abcas3.accessabc.com/ecirc/ Barbara DeConcini newsform.asp (accessed March 27, 2006). Susan Farrell, Ph.D.

120 Blount County Right to Life, “Was the 9/11 Cheryl A. Francisconi, MSW Attack a Warning from God for America to Ofelia Garcia, Ph.D. Repent?” http://www.voiceforunborn.com/ Kate Michelman judgment.html (accessed March 27, 2006). Eileen Moran 121 ecatholicchurches.com, “Catholics Respect Rosemary Radford Ruether, Ph.D. Life,” http://www.catholicsrespectlife.org/ Albert George Thomas, MD (accessed March 27, 2006). Marian Stewart Titus 122 Concerned Women for America, “Attorney Peter Wilderotter, B.A. General Spitzer Still Putting the Screws to Susan Wysocki CPCs,” press release, March 7, 2002.

123 American Life League, “Republican Wimps,” http://www.all.org/newsroom_judieblog.php?id The American Life League: =1149 (accessed April 20, 2006). “More interested in making a statement than making a difference.” © Catholics for a Free Choice, 2006. All rights reserved. Published June 2006. ISBN: 0-915365-74-X Please cite as: Catholics for a Free Choice, “The American Life League: ‘More interested in making a statement than making a difference,’” 2006.

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Catholics for a Free Choice produces a wide range of publications on the Catholic Right, Catholic health care, Catholic public opinion, the sexual abuse scandal and the rights of Catholics in the church. For a full list of CFFC’s publications, please visit our Web site, https://www.catholicsforchoice.org/pubs/ Special rates for bulk orders are available. If you require copies urgently, expedited or electronic delivery is often possible. Please email us at [email protected] or call us at +1 (202) 986 6093.