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Meet his religious adviser:

Kerry's Pick for Religion Adviser Shows Dems 'Totally Lost Their Senses,' Catholic League Says

NewsMax ^ | 8/3/04 | Melanie Hunter/CNSNews

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/8/3/90644.shtml

Democrat presidential candidate John Kerry has replaced his religion adviser with a woman who was one of 32 clergy members to file a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of the atheist who challenged the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance.

According to the Catholic League, the Rev. Brenda Bartella Peterson's amicus brief on behalf of atheist Michael Newdow "shows infinitely more concern for the sensibilities of atheists like Newdow than it does for the 90 percent of Americans who believe in God." Peterson replaced Mara Vanderslice as director of religious outreach.

Democratic National Committee chairman "Terry McAuliffe says the appointment of Rev. Peterson as the new Senior Advisor for Religious Outreach 'reflects the DNC's commitment to reaching all people of faith,'" said Catholic League President William Donohue. But Peterson's background makes one question whether the Democrats have lost their minds, he said.

"He also notes that she 'will act as liaison to religious organizations.' Upon learning of this appointment, we decided to find out who this woman is. And what we found will make people of every faith wonder whether McAuliffe and the DNC have totally lost their senses," Donohue said.

"And this is the person the Democrats want to dispatch to meet with the heads of religious organizations? Are they out of their minds? Would they hire a gay basher to reach out to homosexuals?" he asked.

Donohue said the Democrats "stepped in it again" by hiring Peterson, considering her connection to the Pledge of Allegiance case.

Donohue said the Democrats are "0 for 2 in appointing senior religious liaison directors." First, Kerry's campaign appointed Vanderslice, "but when we exposed her as a radical leftist who associates with anti-Catholics, the Kerry staff silenced her. Now they've stepped in it again by selecting Rev. Peterson," Donohue said.

"The selections of Vanderslice and Peterson suggest that either no one bothers to vet candidates for religious outreach, or the elites making the choices are anti-religious. If the former is true, then this shows that the Democrats place no priority on appealing to people of faith," he said.

"If the latter is true, then Kerry needs to bring in a big broom and clean house," Donohue said.