No communion for contrary Catholics: a good idea?

The warnings of the few, however, stung many Catholic Democrats in Congress, including some who oppose abortion. Earlier this month, 48 legislators sent a letter to McCarrick asking to meet with the task force. They called the bishops' statements "deeply hurtful" and "miring the church in partisan politics."

Some Catholics saw a sign of partisanship in the omission of the death penalty from the bishops' list - an issue on which Republicans might be out of sync with church teaching. Church leaders have often emphasized the "seamless garment" of the sanctity of life - from birth to death - including opposition to capital punishment.

Conservatives, however, insist not all issues are equal. "Nothing else in the catalog of issues has anywhere near the authoritative status of the teaching on abortion," says Father Neuhaus.

The church opposes the death penalty, but the pope "has left open at least the theoretical possibility there might be times in which it is justified," says Russell Shaw, a writer and former spokesman for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Once predominantly Democratic, many Catholic voters are now considered up for grabs. President Bush is scheduled to visit the pope on June 4, in what some consider a prime photo op for the campaign. Relations between the Vatican and administration have been strained over the Iraq war, but Rome appreciates that it has a good friend in the White House on abortion and other conservative issues.

"Many Catholics, particularly the hierarchy, can almost taste [the possibility of] overturning Roe v. Wade," suggests Chester Gillis, chairman of the theology department at Georgetown University. "They have a strong ally in the White House, and why not put a full-court press on Catholics and politicians on this issue?"

Mr. Shaw rejects the idea of any political aim. "Everybody knows the bishops don't have that much influence on how Catholics of any persuasion vote any more, so it's absurd to suggest what they say might influence the election," he says.

The bishops are simply doing their job, he insists. "They aren't saying this to affect people's voting, whether as citizens or legislators, but because it's their responsibility to remind Catholics of what is intrinsically required for living in communion with their church."

At the same time, many Catholics have emphasized that candidates take stands and people vote on the basis of many issues. "Catholics should take into account what the church teaches, but the majority are going to consider several factors and make up their own mind," Dr. Gillis says.

That the bishops hold diverse views on how best to make their case on abortion could lessen the impact of those who've taken the tough line.

In the meantime, in Dr. Carden's view, "People need a pastoral approach as opposed to a condemnatory approach."

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