Rick Scarborough is founder and head of Vision America, based in Lufkin, Texas, which encourages pastors and congregations to promote Judeo-Christian values in local, state and national issues. He favors overturning tolerance policies in public schools that require acceptance and protection of gays and lesbians. He wrote Liberalism Kills Kids (21st Century Press, 2006).

Regina Griggs is executive director of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX), which has worked for public schools to include educational material about ex-gays in programs that encompass sexual orientation.

Catholics for Choice was founded in 1973 to give a voice to those “who believe that the Catholic tradition supports a woman’s moral and legal right to follow her conscience” on matters of reproductive health.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is an organization that works “to unify, coordinate, encourage, promote and carry on Catholic activities in the United States.”

Priests for Life is one of the largest anti-abortion groups in the country. The Rev. Frank Pavone is the group’s leader.

Stephen F. Schneck is chairman of the department of politics and director of the Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., which studies current public policies regarding Catholic social attitudes.

Thomas J. Carty is an assistant professor of American studies and history and chair of the Social Sciences Department at Springfield College in Springfield, Mass. He specializes in U.S. religion and politics and is the author of A Catholic in the White House? Religion, Politics and John F. Kennedy’s Presidential Campaign.

Dona De Sanctis resigned in 2007 from deputy executive director of the Order Sons of Italy in America, which does not support changing the name of the federal holiday. She is editor-in-chief of Italian America magazine and researches Italian American history and achievements.

The Churches’ Center for Land and People, based in Middleton, Wis., is is an ecumenical organization working to strengthen rural life and the ministries of faith communities in Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois. It is sponsored by a number of Christian denominations, religious orders and other organizations.