US Bishops Play Politics With The Body of Christ

US Roman Catholic bishops are now officially playing politics with the sacrament of Holy Communion by branding any Catholic politician who supports a woman's right to choose as "cooperating in evil" and possibly refusing them communion. Any Catholic politician who doesn't disavow such an anti-American, undemocratic principle doesn't deserve your vote. Many bishops seem to oppose such a stance -- only about 20 of more than 300 are creating this fuss. But the statement released is pretty namby-pamby and tries to please both sides -- presumably because of pressure from Rome -- so it takes the absurd position that politicians must represent Catholic viewpoints only. This conveniently ignores the ailing Pope John Paul II's lifelong labors to repair the Church's relationship with other religions by offering respect and dignity -- not to mention the frightening past of the US when constitutional amendments were proposed that attacked Catholics and the idea of a Catholic president was greeted with fear amid charges Rome might do exactly what it is now attempting to do.

If the Church wants to deny communion to those who don't support its viewpoint on abortion being legal (which is far different from personally approving of abortion, of course), why stop with politicans? Why,because the Church would find itself refusing communion to more than 60 percent of all Catholics. What about divorce? Shouldn't the Church deny communion and brand as "cooperating in evil" any politician who refuses to outlaw divorce? The same goes for contraception. Since no bishop has even suggested any of this, you know this is all about politics and nothing about morality or the Catholic religion. Meanwhile the pedophiles and the shameful, disgraced men like Cardinal Law who protected them and attacked the weak continue to be treated like saints.