
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, September 14, 1995                   TAG: 9509140093
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

CATHOLICS WARNED OFF COALITION

Bishop Walter F. Sullivan of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond says parishioners should reject efforts of the Christian Coalition to recruit Catholics and distribute voter guides in Catholic churches.

``We cannot allow the church's agenda to be captured by any group,'' Sullivan said in a letter to pastoral leaders. ``Although the church may find itself in agreement with an organization on important issues and welcomes working with these groups on these issues, no outside group fully represents the public policy agenda of the church.''

The Richmond diocese has 162,000 parishioners in 131 parishes in southern and eastern Virginia.

This month, the Christian Coalition, a Chesapeake-based organization founded by religious broadcaster Pat Robertson, announced plans to form a Catholic Alliance to recruit more Catholic members.

While the Christian Coalition says it is nonpartisan, the organization has become an important force in the Republican Party in Virginia and nationally. On the eve of elections, it issues voter guides detailing how elected officials voted on issues of concern to the coalition.

Mike Russell, spokesman for the Christian Coalition, expressed disappointment at Sullivan's letter. "There are some bishops we are able to work with and some more cautious in their approach,'' he said. ``Working with pro-family, pro-life Roman Catholics was welcomed. We hope to establish a dialogue with Bishop Sullivan and work with him down the road. We are in this for the long haul.''

by CNB