SMART MOVE: Donald Trump appoints 33 Catholic leaders to advise him on policy matters

Catholic Online's Editor in Chief listed among those selected.

Donald Trump has named a list of 33 Catholics to a Catholic Advisory Group to offer him ongoing policy recommendations on matters of concern to Catholics and other Christians. Included on the list is Deacon Keith Fournier, the Editor in Chief of Catholic Online.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, has selected a panel of respected Catholic leaders to advise him on issues of importance to Catholics and other Christians. The panel includes several distinguished figures.

The appointment of the Catholic Advisory Group is important because it affirms Mr. Trump's commitment to restoring the Right to Life to children in the womb and other important pro-life  and pro- family issues, defending religious freedom as the first freedom, appointing solid Justices to the Supreme Court and hearing the voice of Catholic America. About 20 percent of the U.S. population is Catholic.

Catholics want to know that the candidate they support shares and respects their values, will represent their interests and recognizes and respects the fundamental Rights endowed upon all of us by our Creator and secured by the First Amendment to the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution.

Of particular concern to Catholics and other Christians is the Supreme Court. The next President could name between 3-5 Justices of the United States Supreme Court. The wrong appointments could entrench Obamacare's mandates, embed the denial of the Right to Life of children in the womb in the current law and expand its deadly effects - and suppress religious freedom and the Church. Ultimately, Catholics and other Christians could be compelled under force of law to participate in activities that violate their sincerely held religious beliefs or face increasing persecution .

To prevent this outcome, it is critical that Catholic citizens speak with a strong, unified voice. The panel listed below will offer policy advice to Presidential candidate Donald Trump and Vice Presidential candidate Mike Pence. If elected, President Trump and Vice President Pence would continue to be advised by some of the best Catholic thinkers and activists in the nation.

It is important that we as voters consult our fully informed conscience before casting our ballot this November and remember the critical role we play in serving the real common good of this Nation. The treasures given to us in the principles of Catholic Social Teaching are not simply for people of faith. They will help to ensure a truly just social order for all men and women. Our vote counts!

The list of 33 advisors is as follows:

1. Sen. Rick Santorum, Former US Senator and presidential candidate
2. Marjorie Dannenfelser, President, Susan B. Anthony List
3. The Honorable Matt Schlapp, Chairman, American Conservative Union
4. Ambassador Francis Rooney, Former US Ambassador to the Holy See
5. Sean Fieler, President, Chiaroscuro Foundation
6. Rev. Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests for Life
7. Chris Slattery, Founder & President, Expectant Mother Care
8. Cong. Andrew Harris, US Congressman, Maryland, 1st District
9. Janet Morana, Co-Founder, Silent No More Campaign
10. John Klink, President Emeritus, International Catholic Migration Commission
11. Marjorie Murphy Campbell, Founder & Publisher, New Feminism
12. Deacon Keith Fournier, Editor in Chief of Catholic Online
13. Tony Maas, President & CEO of JTM Food Group
14. Patrick Walsh, Former Chief Secretary and Attache, US Embassy, Dublin, Ireland
15. Matt Smith, President, Catholic Advocate, Board Member, American Conservative Union
16. Austin Ruse, President, Center for Family and Human Rights
17. Richard Viguerie, Chairman, ConservativeHQ
18. Angela Flood, Former Director, Secretariat of Communications, Archdiocese of Washington, DC
19. Lou Murray, New York Life Financial Consultant
20. Lisa Bourne, Journalist, LifeSiteNews
21. Cong. Steve Chabot, US Congressman, Ohio, 1st District
22. Cong. Mike Kelly, US Congressman, Pennsylvania, 3rd District
23. Ed Martin, President, Eagle Forum
24. Chuck Mifsud, President, Catholics for Ohio
25. Gov. Sam Brownback, Kansas Governor and former Kansas US Senator
26. Tom Monaghan, Founder, Ave Maria University/Ave Maria School of Law
27. Mark Corallo, Founder, Corallo Media Strategies
28. Jay Shepard, RNC National Committeeman, Vermont
29. Joseph Cella, Founder, National Catholic Prayer Breakfast
30. "The Honorable" Faith Whittlesey, Former US Ambassador to Switzerland and "member of White House senior staff, Reagan Administration"
31. The Honorable R. James Nicholson, Former Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Ambassador to the Holy See
32. The Honorable Frank Keating, Former Governor of Oklahoma
33. The Honorable Sean Duffy, Congressman, Wisconsin, 7th District
34. Mary Matalin, Former Counselor to the Vice President

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