<p><strong>July 22 2019.</strong> Over 125 Catholic theologians community leaders and activists have sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo outlining strong concerns to the recently announced Commission on Unalienable Rights. Mary Ann Glendon a Catholic known for advocating natural law as a basis for policy has been tapped to head the commission.</p><p>The letters signers state Our faith and our commitment to the principles of democracy require us to view every person on earth as a full human being. We staunchly support the fundamental human rights of all people and proudly carry on the long tradition in our country of advocating for expanding human rights around the world. Our concern is that this Commission will undermine these goals by promoting a vision of humanity that is conditional limiting and based on a very narrow religious perspective that is inconsistent with the beliefs and practices of billions in this country and around the world.</p><p>The letter outlines the endorsers concern that the Commission as currently constituted will lead our State Department to adopt policies that will harm people who are already vulnerable especially poor women children LGBTI people immigrants refugees and those in need of reproductive health services. These policies will be embedded in everything from visa and immigration laws to international aid programs and will further undermine true human rights in the name of a very partial version of Christianity that is being promoted by the current DignityUSAistration.</p><p>The letter was born out of discussions among four Catholic leaders Miguel Diaz Marianne Duddy-Burke Mary E. Hunt and Bryan Massingale. We were appalled by what we heard and read about this Commission and its appointees said Mary E. Hunt. We felt we had a duty to act and to create a forum that would allow other Catholics to make their objections and concerns known.</p><p>Bryan Massingale James and Nancy Buckman Chair in Applied Christian Ethics at Fordham University added It should be unthinkable that a U.S. Cabinet member would question a landmark principle in our nation's founding document the 'Declaration of Independence.'&nbsp; To undermine the conviction that all human beings created in the image of God possess inherent rights to life and liberty is both disturbing as an American and offensive as a Christian.</p><p>&nbsp;The four of us had just participated in an international gathering the Global Network of Rainbow Catholics held as part of DignityUSAs 50th anniversary commemoration in which leaders of the Catholic LGBTI movement from around the world outlined the challenges often horrific challenges they face said Marianne Duddy-Burke. Throughout the meeting there were five chairs facing everyone present empty except for the names and countries of delegates refused visas by the U.S. government. All of them were from Africa and were victims of the exclusionary and racist policies of this DignityUSAistration. It was very clear to us that this type of discrimination may very easily be expanded under this Commission. As American Catholics we reject this and welcome global colleagues to our shores.</p><p>Care for the most vulnerable and the rejection of human indifference must inform the soul of our nation and must guide us to enact just laws and policies in the area of U.S. international and diplomatic relations said Miguel Diaz former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See currently John Courtney Murray University Chair in Public Service&nbsp;at Loyola Chicago. We have an ethical obligation to love our neighbors and protect their unalienable rights regardless of their particular ways of being human with respect to gender identity sexual orientation race religious perspectives ethnicity physical ability immigration status and any other particularity used to discriminate.<br> <br> Diaz continued The defense of fundamental human rights has been enshrined in our countrys most cherished documents.&nbsp; As Catholics we also draw from the recognition and commitment to a broad range of human rights due to all persons expressed in Catholic Social Teaching. All human beings have been created in Gods image and all have been endowed by their Creator with the fundamental right to Life Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. No person speaking in the name of government or in the name of God can do so to undermine or deny this right.</p><p>The signers call for the immediate dismantling of this Commission and for the development of a broadly consultative process that will examine the important human rights issues our country encounters in our international engagements and make recommendations that reflect the diversity of faith perspectives on human rights that exist within our country.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>TEXT OF LETTER AND SIGNATORIES BELOW</p><p>SENT VIA OVERNIGHT MAIL</p><p>&nbsp;July 19 2019</p><p>The Honorable Michael R. Pompeo</p><p>Secretary U.S. Department of State</p><p>2201 C Street NW</p><p>Washington DC 20520</p><p><br> Dear Secretary Pompeo<br> <br> We are Catholic theologians community leaders and advocates working on a variety of human rights concerns. As persons who live and serve in this nation we cherish and affirm the American Declaration of Independence's assertion of the truth that all persons are created equal that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. We write to express our strongest objections to the goals and composition of the new Commission on Unalienable Rights.<br> <br> Our faith and our commitment to the principles of democracy require us to view every person on earth as a full human being. We staunchly support the fundamental human rights of all people and proudly carry on the long tradition in our country of advocating for expanding human rights around the world. It is our belief that this Commission will undermine these goals by promoting a vision of humanity that is conditional limiting and based on a very narrow religious perspective that is inconsistent with the beliefs and practices of billions in this country and around the world.<br> <br> Of most urgent concern is that the composition of the Commission indicates that it will lead our State Department to adopt policies that will harm people who are already vulnerable especially poor women children LGBTI people immigrants refugees and those in need of reproductive health services. These policies will be embedded in everything from visa and immigration laws to international aid programs and will further undermine true human rights in the name of a very partial version of Christianity that is being promoted by the current DignityUSAistration. We cannot allow this to happen in our names and pledge our ongoing efforts to prevent this from being how our nations human rights stance is communicated to the rest of the world.<br> <br> We call for the immediate dismantling of this Commission and for the development of a broadly consultative process that will examine the important human rights issues our country encounters in our international engagements and make recommendations that reflect the diversity of faith perspectives on human rights that exist within our country.<br> <br> Thank you for your consideration of this urgent request.<br> <br> Sincerely</p><p>Jorge Aquino Ph.D. Associate Professor Dept. of Theology and Religious Studies University of San Francisco</p><p>Regina Bannon</p><p>Barbara Battista SP Sisters of Providence Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Indiana</p><p>Trevor Bechtel University of Michigan</p><p>Elizabeth Begley</p><p>Rev. Dr. Bev Bingle</p><p>Mary A. Breen</p><p>Deacon Amy Bruner RCWP</p><p>Ken Butigan Ph.D. Peace Justice and Conflict Studies DePaul University</p><p>Fr. Jose Gabriel Castro Iglesia Catolica Ortodoxa de America</p><p>Dolores L. Christie Ph.D. CTSA Executrive Director (retired)</p><p>C. Cook</p><p>Francis X Clooney SJ Parkman Professor of Divinity Harvard University</p><p>Margaret Cooper Southeastern Pennsylvania Women's Ordination Conference</p><p>Professor M. Shawn Copeland</p><p>Tom Cordaro Pax Christi Ambassador for Peace</p><p>Mary Grace Crowley-Koch RCWP Co-coordinator Women-Church Convergence</p><p>Charles E. Curran Professor Southern Methodist University</p><p>Paula vW. Dail Emerita Research Professor of Social Welfare and Public Policy</p><p>Sister Patricia Daly OP</p><p>Antoinette L Daniele</p><p>Rev. Marie David RCWP</p><p>Maria Teresa Davila Ph.D. Associate Professor of the Practice Merrimack College</p><p>Francis DeBernardo Executive Director New Ways Ministry</p><p>Nick De Los Reyes Co-Chair Executive Committee CORPUS</p><p>Marie DesJarlais FSPA</p><p>Miguel H. Diaz Ambassador</p><p>Mary Kay Dobrovolny RSM</p><p>Anne Doucette</p><p>John Doyle</p><p>Heather DuBois</p><p>Marianne Duddy-Burke Executive Director DignityUSA</p><p>Heidi Erdmann</p><p>Orlando O. Espin. Th.D. Professor of Theology University of San Diego</p><p>Theresa Evans OPA Tacoma Dominican Associates</p><p>Dr. Joseph J. Fahey Catholic Scholars for Worker Justice</p><p>Ruth Steinert Foote</p><p>Dr. Peter R. Gathje Vice President of Academic Affairs/Dean Memphis Theological Seminary</p><p>Mark Gotvald Christ the King Church Faith In Action committee</p><p>Leo Guardado Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Theology Fordham University</p><p>Jeanette L Hagelskamp Sisters of Providence</p><p>Hille Haker Richard McCormick Endowed Chair of Catholic Moral Theology Loyola University Chicago</p><p>Eleanor Harty</p><p>Brenda Hepler</p><p>Jacqueline M. Hidalgo Associate Professor of Latina/o Studies and Religion Williams College</p><p>I.J. Hill</p><p>Mary E. Hines Ph.D. Professor Emerita of Theology Emmanuel College</p><p>Rosalind Hinton Religious Studies Teacher</p><p>Bradford Hinze Professor of Theology Fordham University</p><p>Dr. Elizabeth A. Johnson CSJ Distinguished Professor Fordham University</p><p>Suzanne Holland Ph.D. University of Puget Sound Department of Religious Studies</p><p>Mary E. Hunt Ph.D. Womens Alliance for Theology Ethics and Ritual (WATER)</p><p>Andrea and Spencer Johnson Treasurer CORPUS</p><p>Zach Johnson Executive Director Call To Action USA</p><p>Dr. Thomas Kelly</p><p>Gail P. Kennon</p><p>Mary Beth Klingel SP</p><p>Alice M. Knowles Immediate Past Vice-President DignityUSA</p><p>Rev. Mary Kay Kusner RCWP</p><p>Elizabeth Linehan RSM</p><p>Fr. Bernrd J. Lynch</p><p>Daniel C. Maguire Emeritus Professor of Moral Theology Marquette University</p><p>Linda and Phil Marcin Secretary CORPUS</p><p>Bryan N. Massingale James and Nancy Buckman Chair in Applied Christian Ethics Fordham University</p><p>Dannis Matteson Loyola University Chicago</p><p>James P. McCartin Fordham University</p><p>Rev. Maria Thornton McClain RCWP</p><p>Dugan McGinley</p><p>Tom McLoughlin</p><p>Ginger Megley</p><p>Gina Messina Dysert Associate Professor of Religious Studies</p><p>Rev. Dr. Susan Mielke</p><p>Alex Mikulich Catholic Social Ethicist</p><p>Mark Miller Associate Professor University of San Francisco</p><p>Dr. Diann Neu Womens Alliance for Theology Ethics and Ritual (WATER)</p><p>Cheryl Nichols</p><p>Darlene Noesen Chicago Women-Church</p><p>Jon OBrien President Catholics for Choice</p><p>Rev. Jennifer OMalley Holy Wisdom Catholic Community</p><p>Kate Ott Associate Professor of Christian Social Ethics Drew Theological School</p><p>Elaine Padilla Associate Professor of Philosophy and Religion/Latinx and Latin American Studies University of La Verne</p><p>Beatrice Parwatikar Pax Christi Ambassador of Peace</p><p>Russ Petrus Co-Director FutureChurch</p><p>Christopher Pett President DignityUSA</p><p>Linda Pinto Co-Chair Executive Committee CORPUS</p><p>Dolores Pomerleau Co-founder Quixote Center</p><p>Dr. Virginia Kaib Ratigan Religious Studies Claremont College (Retired)</p><p>Pastor Kathy Redig</p><p>Kathleen Blank Riether</p><p>Sergio Romero</p><p>Deborah Rose-Milavec Co-Director FutureChurch</p><p>Patricia Russell</p><p>Joseph A. Sannino Community of the Christian Spirit</p><p>Roe Sauerzopf Vice President Call To Action Metro New York</p><p>Karen J Scheer RSM MD</p><p>Rev. Kathleen Gibbons Schuck</p><p>Dr. Karen Schwarz Coordinator San Francisco Bay Area Women-Church</p><p>Rev. Irene Senn RCWP</p><p>Rev. Janice Sevre-Duszynska ARCWP</p><p>Robert Shine Associate Director New Ways Ministry</p><p>Ursula L. Slavick SHSD Haiti Project</p><p>Prof. William H. Slavick Pax Christi Maine</p><p>Melinda Spataro</p><p>Lewis Speaks-Tanner Immediate Past President DignityUSA</p><p>Lisa Stallings Sisters of Providence</p><p>Jeffrey Stone</p><p>Anthony Surez-Abraham Dominican University</p><p>Leonard Swidler Professor of Catholic Theology Temple University</p><p>Jonathan Tan The Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan Professor of Catholic Studies Case Western Reserve University</p><p>Emerita Tejano</p><p>Yannik Thiem Associate Professor Department of Religion Columbia University</p><p>Terrence Tilley Emeritus Professor of Theology Fordham University</p><p>Cristina L.H. Traina Professor and Chair Department of Religious Studies Northwestern&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;University</p><p>Rev. Dr. Joanna Truelson RCWP</p><p>Rev. Roger Vaughn Orthodox-Catholic Church of America</p><p>Rt. Rev. Dr. Lynn Walker Orthodox-Catholic Church of America</p><p>Kathleen Maas Weigert</p><p>Katherine Wojtan Executive Director Marys Pence</p><p>Rev. Constantine Wright Orthodox-Catholic Church of America</p><p>Mary T. Yelenick Esp.</p><p>Theresa Yugar Ph.D.</p><p>Martin Zatsick</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Signed after letter was sent:</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Margaret A. Farley Ph.D Emerita of Christian Ethics Yale Divinity School</p><p>Sister Jeannine Gramick SL National Coordinator National Coalition of American Nuns</p><p>Peter Mena Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies University of San Diego</p><p>Paula Trimble-Familetti D.Min. International Feminist Theology St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Community</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>To follow up please contact Marianne Duddy-Burke Executive Director DignityUSA P.O. Box 376 Medford MA 02215 </em><a href=mailto:execdir@dignityusa.org><em>execdir@dignityusa.org</em></a><em> or Miguel H. Diaz Ph.D. Ambassador to the Holy See Ret. The John Courtney Murray Chair in Public Service Loyola University Chicago 1032 W. Sheridan Road Chicago IL 60660 773-274-3000</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>