Kerry, Bush both missed questionnaire deadline, says USCCB spokesman

Published: 2004-10-27

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops dropped plans for releasing a question-and-answer survey on campaign issues after both major presidential candidates failed to cooperate in answering the questionnaire, said Msgr. Francis Maniscalco, USCCB spokesman. Msgr. Maniscalco spoke to Catholic News Service Oct. 27 after news stories cited a group called Catholic Voting Project as saying that President George W. Bush's campaign refused to answer the USCCB questionnaire. "Neither campaign cooperated in answering the questionnaire as requested by the Aug. 2 deadline," said Msgr. Maniscalco. Bush, the Republican candidate, and Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts, the Democratic nominee, were sent identical questionnaires July 2 and given an Aug. 2 deadline to respond, he said. The questionnaire contained 40 questions on 15 to 20 topics that are followed closely by the Catholic bishops, said Msgr. Maniscalco. The candidates were asked to respond only with "support" or "oppose" to the statement contained in each question, he said. The conference waited until Aug. 16 before deciding to abandon the project, he said.

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