For Immediate Release
May 16, 2019
Media Contact:
Janine Walsh, 203-685-1856
walsh@franciscanaction.org
Coalition Calls on Presidential Candidates to Support Comprehensive Democracy Reform
More Than 100 Good Government, Religious, and Civil Rights Organizations signed an open letter to 2020 presidential candidates
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Franciscan Action Network joined a coalition of more than 100 democracy, environmental, religious, good government, civil rights, and other groups from the Declaration of American Democracy coalition in signing an open letter that was sent to all 2020 presidential candidates urging them to make comprehensive democracy reform an integral part of their campaign platforms. You can view the letter here.
“The Gospel of Matthew tells us that we must not serve God and money. After hearing God’s call to “rebuild His Church” a young St. Francis famously renounced his wealthy merchant father and all his worldly possessions,” said Patrick Carolan, executive director of Franciscan Action Network. “As Pope Francis calls us to “meddle in politics” we’re reminded that all Americans must have an equal say in the public square. Therefore we call on all Presidential candidates to support comprehensive democracy reform.”
The Franciscan Action Network has been a leading faith voice calling for democracy reform for years. Earlier this year, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the For the People Act, a groundbreaking democracy reform package that will fix our broken political system and curb the culture of corruption. The entire Senate Democratic Caucus introduced a Senate companion bill, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, backed by Senate Republicans, said he won’t allow the bill to come to the floor.
Poll after poll has shown that Americans of all political affiliations are looking for fundamental changes in our democratic process and it is incumbent upon these candidates to listen to the will of the voters. Click here to find a list of reforms that we urged all candidates – Democrat and Republican – to campaign on and ultimately make policy priorities once in office.
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