FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Catholics Mobilize as Part of Iraq Summer "Take A Stand" Day of Action

Washington, DC- Thousands of Catholics participated in activities for an end to the war in six states across the country on Tuesday, August 28.  As part of the Iraq Summer "Take A Stand" activities, Catholic leaders spoke at Town Hall meetings and conducted vigils for peace.  Catholics to End the War in Iraq (CEWI) called this a historic demonstration of Catholic mobilization for a safe and responsible end to the war in
Iraq.

Ending the war in
Iraq is one of the Catholic community's most important moral priorities according to a recent poll.  Pope Benedict XVI and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops have expressed deep moral concerns about the war in
Iraq.  2006 exit polling showed that the war in
Iraq was the single most important factor that influenced how Catholics voted.

Catholic leaders spoke on the need for bringing a safe and responsible end to the war in Iraq at town hall meetings in Manassas, Richmond and Virginia Beach, Virginia; Louisville, Kentucky; Minnetonka, St. Cloud and St. Paul, Minnesota; Columbus, Ohio; Bethlehem, Erie, Philadelphia, Reading, Pittsburgh and York, Pennsylvania; and Orono and Portland, Maine.

Catholic activists have worked this past week to organize participation in "Take A Stand" day.  In addition, Catholic masses with a special prayer for peace and an end to the war in Iraq were offered this past Sunday, August 26, in Virginia, Kentucky, Maine and
Minnesota.

"What our elected leaders need to understand is that bringing the
Iraq war to a responsible end is the Catholic community's single greatest moral priority" said Chris Korzen, Executive Director of Catholics United.  "And Catholics are going to keep organizing until Congress passes binding legislation that brings this war to a safe and responsible end."

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Catholics for an End to the War in Iraq (www.catholicsforanend.org) is a project of Catholics United, with support from NETWORK, a National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, Pax Christi USA, the national Catholic peace movement, and Catholics in
Alliance for the Common Good.

Catholics United (www.catholics-united.org) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting the message of justice and the common good found at the heart of the Catholic Social Tradition. We accomplish this mission through online advocacy and educational activities.

NETWORK (www.networklobby.org) is a Catholic leader in the global movement for justice and peace that educates, organizes and lobbies for economic and social transformation. Founded in 1971 by 47 Catholic sisters, NETWORK is supported by thousands of groups and individuals committed to working for social and economic justice.

Pax Christi USA (www.paxchristiusa.org) is the national Catholic peace movement, reaching more than half a million Catholics in the
United States. Our membership includes more than 130
U.S. bishops, 800 parish sponsors, 650 religious communities, and 300 local groups. Pax Christi USA is a section of Pax Christi International, the international Catholic peace movement, with consultative status at the United Nations.

Catholics in
Alliance for the Common Good (www.catholicsinalliance.org) is a non-partisan non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the fullness of the Catholic social tradition in the public square. Catholics in
Alliance for the Common Good works to promote the necessary conditions for a culture of life - a culture that reverences the dignity of the human person over greed, materialism, and the politics of division.

Catholics for an End to the War in Iraq (CEWI) is a coalition of non-partisan nonprofit organizations under sections 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).  Each sponsoring organization conducts activities appropriate to its tax and election law status under the umbrella of CEWI.  Coalition partner organizations that are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRC have not endorsed or sponsored any CEWI statements naming candidates for public office or calling on legislators to support or oppose specific legislation.