While President Bush continues his cynically transparent effort to court American Catholic voters, some U.S. bishops are doing his dirty work for him.
A group of American bishops, backed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in the Vatican, proclaimed that pro-choice politicians should not receive Communion. Others have gone further, issuing statements and newspaper advertisements that true Catholics should not vote for pro-choice politicians. As Pew Research has found, American Catholics are not buying it.
All involved might actually want to check in with Pope John Paul II. On January 6, 2000, the Pope himself gave Communion to the popular, ardently pro-choice former mayor of Rome, Francesco Rutelli.
If the wafer fits...