Bush is ignoring his church's official view on the death penalty ("The" United Methodist website. It don't get much more United Methodist than this). I could say he's do it simply to snag more votes from the overwhelming pro-death penalty majority of conservatives -- making a mockery of his own religion to win an election -- but I can't read his mind. It seems as easily explained by remembering he grew up in pro-death penalty Texas, while Kerry grew up in pro-choice Massachusetts.

Regarding Catholic disagreement over the issue of pro-choice candidates taking abortion, I don't think I'm in a better position than bishops to judge whether the issue is black and white. Given that there is disagreement on the issue, you might think to look at the Pope's practice:

On January 6, 2001, at the concluding mass of the Jubilee, John Paul II personally gave communion to Francesco Rutelli, a practicing Catholic and a premier center-left candidate for this year’s planned elections in Italy.

Rutelli had been, as a member of the Radical Party, one of the most active supporters of Italy’s abortion law, which is among the most permissive in the world. And he continued, as a Catholic, to maintain publicly “pro-choice” positions.

January 6, 2001

Three years back, this whole communion thing got started in 2003, so...got anything that is more recent?

- GX

Bush isn't ignoring it, he is differing with it. In the Methodist Church, that appears to be pretty acceptable. To be a pro-abortion or pro gay-rights Catholic, though, seems like an oxymoron. Maybe they are embracing more diverse ideas these days, but given how they treat rogue preists with such values, I tend to think not. I don't think you'll see a RC bishop that doubts the divinity of Christ and is pro-abortion. You do see that in the Methodist Church. You think it is more permissible for a Methodist to differ with the dogma leaning to the left, but not to the right?

Reply #44 By: Abe Cubbage - 10/11/2004 7:29:28 PM drmiler, you posted someone's opinion. I am not really sure what else to say.

The first was an op-ed but I didn't post the whole thing. But the link on the OTHER hand is NOT op-ed.

Reply #46 By: blogic - 10/11/2004 7:45:48 PM Bush is ignoring his church's official view on the death penalty ("The" United Methodist website. It don't get much more United Methodist than this). I could say he's do it simply to snag more votes from the overwhelming pro-death penalty majority of conservatives -- making a mockery of his own religion to win an election -- but I can't read his mind. It seems as easily explained by remembering he grew up in pro-death penalty Texas, while Kerry grew up in pro-choice Massachusetts. Regarding Catholic disagreement over the issue of pro-choice candidates taking abortion, I don't think I'm in a better position than bishops to judge whether the issue is black and white. Given that there is disagreement on the issue, you might think to look at the Pope's practice: On January 6, 2001, at the concluding mass of the Jubilee, John Paul II personally gave communion to Francesco Rutelli, a practicing Catholic and a premier center-left candidate for this year’s planned elections in Italy. Rutelli had been, as a member of the Radical Party, one of the most active supporters of Italy’s abortion law, which is among the most permissive in the world. And he continued, as a Catholic, to maintain publicly “pro-choice” positions.

Go read #42 and check out the link while your at it.