Pro-Obama Catholic rewarded with government job at HHS

Washington D.C., Jun 4, 2009 / 12:31 pm

Alexia Kelley, Executive Director of "Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good,” one of the pro-Obama Catholic organizations that strongly supported the appointment of the former Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has been named Director of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships for the HHS.

Kelley co-founded Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good (CACG) in 2005 and co-authored with Chris Korzen, "A Nation for All: How the Catholic Vision of the Common Good Can Save America from the Politics of Division."

Both Kelley and Korzen have supported controversial political decisions and appointments made by the Obama administration, including the suspension of the Mexico City Policy and the decision to allow federally-funded embryonic stem cell research. Kelley and Korzen lent their support despite both measures drawing criticism from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The pair of political activists also created the website www.catholicsforsebelius.org to promote the confirmation of the pro-abortion Catholic Kathleen Sebelius as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

The campaign was conducted in spite of the fact that Sebelius' own bishop, Archbishop Joseph Naumann, asked her to refrain from receiving Holy Communion because of her support for abortion. Kelley and Korzen contended that while Sebelius is pro-choice, “she is personally opposed to abortion and has worked to reduce the number of abortions in the very red state where she, a pro-choice Democrat, was elected twice as governor.”

In a statement issued on Thursday, CACG congratulated Kelley “on this distinguished appointment,” and offered its “deepest appreciation for her tireless service to Catholics in Alliance over the past several years.”

“In her new position, Kelley will play a critical role empowering faith communities across the nation to advance a bold agenda for health care reform that ensures all American families have the affordable and quality care they deserve. Inspired by our faith’s teaching that health care is a human right central to serving the common good, Catholics will continue to be front and center in this critical effort,” the statement says. 

Vicky Kovari, the National Field Director for Catholics in Alliance, has been named Interim Executive Director.

“At a time when millions lack health care, immigrants are often demonized as ‘aliens’ and the silent genocide of poverty shames a nation committed to equal opportunity, our core mission remains as vital as ever,” Kovari said.

She also addressed the issue of abortion, saying, “We are also poised to make real progress on preventing and reducing abortion. We are committed to finding common ground on this critical issue.”