Bishops vs. Catholic politicians
• Absurd Inurbane Witless , • Catholic
The aging American Catholic bishops are planning to refuse Holy Communion to John Kerry, New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey and other politicians who don't work to make abortion illegal again.
"The church has to offer a serious discussion of the other social issues. Otherwise they're playing right into the hands of the Republicans," said Rocco Palmo, a graduating senior at the University of Pennsylvania and a Catholic.
"It's as if the bishops are saying: 'We'll do this pro-life work, but once you're born, our work is done; the rest of your life is up to the politicians.' "
The Rev. John O'Malley, a church historian and humanities professor at Fordham University, said the bishops "haven't been assertive on capital punishment or the Iraq war, have they?"
David O'Reilly, Philadelphia Inquirer: Abortion reemerges as political litmus test