by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist Fr. Frank Pavone has personally vouched for John Carr, the embattled director of the U.S. Bishop’s (USCCB) Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development who has been accused of having ties with an organization that promotes abortion and homosexual rights. In a statement appearing on his website, Fr. Pavone says he has been asked by many people whether or not Mr. Carr is pro-life and committed to the goal of protecting the unborn. “Because I am in a position to answer that question, and because of the fact that hurting people’s reputations never serves our cause, let me state for the record that the answer to that question is ‘Yes,’” Fr. says. “I have had many opportunities to talk to and listen to John over the years, in public and in private, to read his articles, and to discuss our common goal of seeing social justice and peace applied to our neighbors in the womb. His record is clear, and unlike some others, when he talks about justice and peace and human development, he does not fail to include the unborn.” Included in the statement is correspondence from Mr. Carr in which he states that at the time he was working with the radical Center for Community Change (CCC), it had no involvement in abortion or homosexuality and was focused primarily on poverty, housing and immigration. “When I served, the board never discussed or acted on any position involving these matters and if they had, I would have vigorously opposed any advocacy for access to abortion or gay marriage,” Mr. Carr wrote. Richard Doeflinger, deputy director of the USCCB's Secretariat for pro-life activities, verified this statement, saying that the CCC was not  involved in abortion and homosexual rights advocacy at the time he was there. “To turn this into a charge against John Carr is ridiculous,” Mr. Doeflinger wrote. Fr. Pavone goes on to caution: “As we work together to resolve the problems that do exist in our Church and in our culture, let’s do so with great caution to preserve the good reputation to which all of our colleagues have a right.” © All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace®  http://www.womenofgrace.com