Councilwoman issues apology for Catholic Church comments; see video of her controversial statements

Thu. November 20, 2008; Posted: 06:18 PM

Nov 20, 2008 (The Island Packet - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- MNI | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Beaufort County Councilwoman Laura Von Harten apologized Wednesday for criticizing the Roman Catholic Church during a debate over a local church's plans to expand.

During a Land Management Committee discussion on Monday over whether to allow St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Bluffton to grow by granting it a zoning change, Von Harten called the official Catholic Church policy barring women from serving as priests "an affront to my dignity and all of womankind." She also objected to the church's anti-abortion positions.

Von Harten, who is not on the land committee, said at the time she would oppose the zoning change when it came before the full County Council next week because of the Catholic Church's position on various issues.

On Tuesday, however, she said she would abstain from any votes on St. Gregory's rezoning, saying her "personal opinions are obviously going to get in the way of me making a fair decision."

She went further Wednesday, writing a letter of apology addressed to Beaufort County Council Chairman Weston Newton. She also e-mailed a copy of that letter to the media.

"I truly intended my remarks on human rights to pertain to the Catholic Church as a political entity, with a seat at the United Nations, but I acknowledge that I offended individuals in my own community," she wrote.

"In no way did I intend to infringe on anyone's freedom of religion. In no way did I intend to disparage any individual member of the Church. I respect the rights of all people to worship in the church of their choosing. Given the history of persecution endured by members of the Catholic Church, I regret my insensitivity on this matter."

Meanwhile, a national Catholic anti-defamation group called for her resignation.

"Without the slightest provocation, Laura Von Harten decided to bash Catholicism," said Bill Donohue, president of the New York-based Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights.

"This suggests an animus so deep as to call into question her fitness for public service. She should do more than recuse herself on matters Catholic -- she should resign from her post as councilwoman. There is no legitimate role for bigots in public life."

Newton said he's been contacted by a number of citizens calling on the council to take formal action against Von Harten.

"I was shocked and appalled by her comments," Newton said. "To express racial, ethnic or religious discrimination in the context of public service is completely inappropriate."

But he said a county attorney told him that neither he nor the full council has the authority to reprimand Von Harten.

Von Harten said in her letter Wednesday that while she stands by her political stance, the Land Management Committee meeting was "an inappropriate forum" to express those beliefs.

"I interjected my concerns regarding the Catholic Church into a zoning discussion, and for that I am truly sorry," she wrote. "Please be assured that I have been reminded of the importance of separation of church and state in matters of land use, and have learned a great deal from this incident. As I have publically (sic) stated, I will abstain from voting on the project currently under consideration."

Von Harten's letter, however, makes clear that she does not intend to resign from the council, but rather to learn from her mistake.

"I ask for your forgiveness and pledge to approach my duties as councilwoman from a more restrained and objective viewpoint," she wrote.

Von Harten, who is a Unitarian Universalist, said Tuesday that it was her own religion's emphasis on speaking one's conscience that sparked her comments about Catholic policies.

Her minister, the Rev. Nan White of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Beaufort, sent an e-mail Wednesday that reaffirmed the church's commitment to freedom of religion. White said she felt compelled to issue the statement to clarify her denomination's position on the separation of church and state.

Von Harten "is respected in her own search for truth and her inherent dignity as a person," White wrote in the e-mail. "However, having said that, Unitarian Universalism has long advocated a clear separation of church and state, with the understanding that political power or influence is not to be used either to advance or impede any particular faith."

In another development, Von Harten said Wednesday that she never used the words "uterus rights," as was reported in The Island Packet on Tuesday and Wednesday. What she said, according to a transcript of the Monday meeting, is, "I don't like the way they want to control women's uteruses."

Von Harten's statements Monday

Lauren Von Harten's statements at Monday's Land Management Committee meeting:

"I'm not on the committee, but if this comes before council I'd be inclined to vote against it because of human rights issues.

"I could not have (St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church pastor) Father (Ronald) Cellini's job or the Pope's job if I wanted it and it's an affront to my dignity as a woman and all of womankind.

"I don't want to support anything that will perpetuate that kind of ideology that would prevent me from being an active leader in an organization, and I don't like the way they want to control women's uteruses, and I just don't want to do anything that would perpetuate that.

"If we're going to rezone something from rural to something else, I want it to be to create a loving inclusive mixed-use community and that's the only way I will give up rural land. To me Okatie Village was that: A mixed use inclusive loving comm. And I just have to vote in favor of love and against hate when I see hate."

Laura Von Harten's letter of apology:

Dear Chairman Newton:

This is a formal apology for the remarks I made at a recent Land Management Committee meeting. I am grateful for the offers of prayer that have been expressed by many people. I thank them for their kind and gentle words of wisdom.

I truly intended my remarks on human rights to pertain to the Catholic Church as a political entity, with a seat at the United Nations, but I

acknowledge that I offended individuals in my own community. In no way did I intend to infringe on anyone's freedom of religion. In no way did I intend to disparage any individual member of the Church. I respect the rights of all people to worship in the church of their choosing. Given the history of persecution endured by members of the Catholic Church, I regret my insensitivity on this matter.

I interjected my concerns regarding the Catholic Church into a zoning discussion, and for that I am truly sorry. I meant only an extension of my overall opposition to development that restricts access on the basis of factors such as race, age or gender but it was an inappropriate forum.

Please be assured that I have been reminded of the importance of separation of church and state in matters of land use, and have learned a great deal from this incident. As I have publically stated, I will abstain from voting on the project currently under consideration.

I ask for your forgiveness and pledge to approach my duties as councilwoman from a more restrained and objective viewpoint.

Best regards,

Laura Von Harten

E-mail from Von Harten's minister

E-mail from Von Harten's minister, Rev. Nan White, explaining the position of the Unitarian Universalist Church on the separation of church and state

To: Michael Shapiro

From: Rev. Nan L. White, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Beaufort

The calling of a minister of any faith is to hear and understand the private convictions of congregants. As a Unitarian Universalist minister that calling applies for Laura Von Harten especially when her convictions under gird her public remarks as a County Councilwoman. Drawing from the principles of our faith she is respected in her own search for truth and her inherent dignity as a person. However, having said that, Unitarian

Universalism has long advocated a clear separation of church and state,

with the understanding that political power or influence is not to be used

either to advance or impede any particular faith.

This tradition dates back to the ideals that Unitarians such as Thomas Jefferson and John Adams included in the founding principles of this nation. Unitarian Universalists believe that a clear separation of religion and government is the best way to strengthen both.

Unfortunately, the strong personal beliefs that Ms. Von

Harten has expressed have come under scrutiny due to the public position she holds. I support Laura's decision to recuse herself from a county council vote that addresses, among many other issues, the health and safety of parishioners seeking to freely exercise their religious faith.

Statement from the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights

Statement from Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights President Bill

Donohue:

"Without the slightest provocation, Laura Von Harten decided to bash Catholicism. This suggests an animus so deep as to call into question her fitness for public service. She should do more than recuse herself on

matters Catholic--she should resign from her post as councilwoman. There is no legitimate role for bigots in public life."

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