Contact: Press Office, 703-650-5550; www.JohnMcCain.com

ARLINGTON, Virginia, March 10 /Standard Newswire/ -- Today over 100 prominent Catholics nationwide have come together to support John McCain for president. The National Catholics for McCain Committee, led by U.S. Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Former Governor Frank Keating (R-OK), is growing rapidly. The group is represented by elected officials, businessmen and women, grassroots organizers, students, and Catholic leaders from over two dozen states.

"John McCain has a common sense vision for America based on faith, freedom, and families," said Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), National Co-Chair of the National Catholics for McCain Committee. "Committed to the protection of innocent human life, he is a leader Catholics will be proud to support. John McCain knows from experience what it means when a society tramples on the truth of the value of the human person. He is committed to defending the dignity and value of every person, regardless of their status."

John McCain expressed his deep appreciation and stated, "I want to thank Catholic voters today, who have played a vital role in electing me as the Republican nominee for the presidency. I am humbled by the support of such a diverse group of Catholic leaders who are dedicated to the defense of traditional marriage, advocate for the protection of innocent human life, and share my vision for a stronger, safer and more prosperous America. I stand firmly with those Catholics who believe that human rights are natural rights for all people, in all places, and in all stages of life."

The National Catholics for McCain Committee is actively recruiting Catholics at the national, regional, state, local, and parish levels to help share John McCain's vision and pro-Catholic message. 

Catholics For McCain Co-Chairs:

U.S. Senator Sam Brownback, Kansas
Former Governor Frank Keating, Oklahoma

Catholics For McCain National Leadership Committee:

Republican House Leader John Boehner, Ohio   
Former U.S. Senator Mike DeWine, Ohio           
Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Florida        
Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, Florida
Former U.S. Secretary of State Alexander Haig, Washington, DC
Representative Ray LaHood, Illinois      
Representative Dan Lungren, California 
U.S. Senator Mel Martinez, Florida
Representative Jean Schmidt, Ohio
Representative Pat Tiberi, Ohio

Catholics For McCain National Steering Committee:

David Adams, Florida, Retired Senior Foreign Service Officer    
Laurence Alvarado, Florida, Managing Director, Bearing Point & Contributor, InsideCatholic.com 
Hon. William Barr, Virginia, Former U.S. Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice
David Barron, South Carolina, Former Advisor & Surrogate, Reagan for President           
Andresen Blom, Hawaii, Former Executive Director, Hawaii Right to Life 
Gerry Bradley, Indiana, Law Professor, University of Notre Dame School of Law
Helen Anne Bunn, California, Owner & Operator, Health Care Facilities
Frank Cannon, Virginia, Treasurer, Susan B. Anthony List & Former Campaign Manager, Bauer for President
Mary Cannon, Virginia, Speechwriter & Former Deputy Communications Director, Kemp for President
Ryan Carney, Virginia, Former Chairman, CUA Republicans & Former Finance Director, Brownback for President
Alan Carson, Georgia, President, Obor Digital
Joseph Cella, Virginia, Founder, National Catholic Prayer Breakfast
Theo Chalgren, Minnesota, Visual Media Producer
Linda Chavez, Virginia, Conservative Author & Syndicated Columnist
Denis Coleman, Florida, Former Chairman, Covenant House & Former General Counsel, Bermuda
Jim Corbett, South Carolina, Former State Director, Brownback for President
Lisa Correnti, Maryland, Grassroots Activist & Homemaker         
Timothy Costa, Rhode Island, Policy Advisor
Marjorie Dannenfelser, Virginia, President, Susan B. Anthony List
Martin Dannenfelser, Virginia, Former Vice President, Family Research Council
Shawn Denton, Florida, Catholic Outreach Coordinator in Broward County, McCain for President
Terry Denton, Florida, Catholic Outreach Coordinator in Broward County, McCain for President
Bob Destro, Washington, DC, Law Professor, Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law
Stephen Louis A. Dillard, Georgia, Attorney & Former Legal Policy Advisor, Huckabee for President
Bernard Dobranski, Michigan, Dean, Ave Maria School of Law
Aggie Dowd, New Hampshire, Political Activist
John Dowd, New Hampshire, Former State Chairman, New Hampshire Republican Party & Coordinator, Catholics for Bush
Martin Duggan, Missouri, Television Host & Catholic Activist
John Eddy, Arkansas, Former National Victory Director, Republican National Committee
Tracy Eddy, Arkansas, Former Senior Staffer, the White House
Umberto Fedeli, Ohio, President & CEO, Fedeli Group
Ariel Fernandez, Florida, Catholic Outreach Coordinator in Miami-Dade County, McCain for President
James Fitzpatrick, Pennsylvania, Former State Regional Coalition Chair, Catholics for Bush
Dorothy Fleming, Minnesota, Deputy Chair, Republican Party of Minnesota
Angela Flood, Virginia, Former Deputy Political Director, the White House
Robert P. George, New Jersey, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence, Princeton University
Martin Gillespie, New Jersey, Former Director of Catholic Outreach, Republican National Committee
Rob Gleason, Pennsylvania, Chairman, Republican Party of Pennsylvania
Frank Hanna, Georgia, CEO, Hanna Capital, LLC
Hon. Melissa Hart, Pennsylvania, Former Representative, US House & Candidate for Congress
Deal W. Hudson, Washington, DC, President, Morley Publishing Group
John J. Jakubczyk, Arizona, Former President, Arizona Right to Life                   
John M. Klink, California, Former Diplomat, Vatican
Christian Kotscher, Georgia, National Principal, IBM
Alfred A. Lagan, Massachusetts, Founder & Chairman, Congress Asset Management Company
Alyssa Lombardi, Virginia, Teacher & Pro-Life Activist
Connie Marshner, Virginia, Writer, Editor & Grassroots Leader
Kitty Martinez, Florida, Former Educator
Hon. Bob McDonnell, Virginia, Attorney General, Virginia
Edward McFadden, Virginia, Former Senior Advisor, Fred Thompson for President
Margaret Melady, Virginia, Former President, American University in Rome
Amb. Thomas Melady, Virginia, Former US Ambassador, Vatican           
Tom Monaghan, Florida, Catholic Philanthropist & Founder, Domino's Pizza & Ave Maria University         
Hon. Maureen Mooney, New Hampshire, State Representative (R-Merrimack) & Former State Director, Catholics for Bush 
Mario Murgado, Florida, President & CEO, Miami Automotive Retail, Inc. Brickell Motors
Dennis Myers, Florida, Broward County Republican Executive Committee
Chris Nolan, Maryland, President, Landbridge Equity, LLC
Catherine Nugent, Missouri, President, Willis Pendleton Inc.
Joe O'Farrell, Georgia, Catholic Activist & Fundraiser
Patrick O'Meara, Michigan, Founder, O'Meara Ferguson Kearns, Inc.
Hon. Brian Palmer, Michigan, State Representative (R-Romeo)
Dana Phillips, Iowa, Former Co-Chairman, Catholics for Brownback
William F. Plunkett, Jr., New York, Attorney
Alexandra Preate, New York, Principal, Capital HQ
George Prezioso, New York, Vice President, AWMA
John Pudner, Georgia, President, Concentric Direct
Robert Reilly, Virginia, Former Director, Voice of America
Maureen Roselli, New Jersey, Founding CEO & Former President, Catholic Alliance
Austin Ruse, Virginia, President, Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute
Cathy Ruse, Virginia, Former Chief Pro-Life Spokesman, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Paul G. Scolese, Virginia, Former Staff, Bush-Cheney 2000 Presidential Transition Office
Lauren Shea, Florida, Political Activist   
Timothy D. Shea, Florida, Real Estate Executive
Shawn Smeallie, Virginia, Partner, American Continental Group
Jack St. Martin, Colorado, Former Campaign Manager, Beauprez for Governor
John Stanton, Pennsylvania, Former Executive Director, Southeast Pennsylvania Pro-Life Union
Frank Stella, Michigan, Chairman & CEO, F.D. Stella Products Company
Hon. George W. Strake, Jr., Texas, Former Secretary of State, Texas & Former Chairman, Republican Party of Texas      
Warren Sweeney, New Jersey, Former Executive Director, National Right to Life Committee
Christina Valentine, Virginia, Former President, Franciscan University of Steubenville College Republicans
Rick Valentine, Virginia, Former Deputy Assistant U.S. Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice
Susan Valentine, Virginia, Vice President, Virginia Society for Human Life
Tim Von Dohlen, Texas, 2004 Delegate & Former Representative, Texas State House
Pat Von Dohlen, Texas, Pro-Life Activist
Robert Wasinger, Virginia, Former Campaign Manager, Brownback for President
John Willke, Ohio, President, Life Issues Institute, Inc.
Chuck Yob, Michigan, Republican National Committeeman, Michigan
Eugene J. Zurlo, South Carolina, Chairman, Zurlo Investment Trust & Former President, Catholic Radio Association

Catholic Students For McCain Leadership Committee:

Billy Valentine, Virginia, Chairman, Catholic Students for McCain, Franciscan University of Steubenville
Lauren Benning, Florida, Catholic Outreach Coordinator in Lee County, McCain for President, Duke University
Raymond M. Gennawey, III, California, Former Chairman, CUA Republicans, Catholic University of America
Danielle Huntley, Massachusetts, Former President, Students for Life of America, Boston College School of Law
Kilty Maher, Iowa, Ave Maria University
Matthew Rooney, New Jersey, Former Chairman, CUA Republicans, Rutgers Law School
Terry Schilling, Illinois, Student Body President, Franciscan University of Steubenville
Thomas Ternan, Texas, Franklin & Marshall College
Katie Wilcox, Michigan, Ave Maria Law School
Colm Willis, Oregon, Boston College