Catholic Bishops Vow to Confront Obama Administration Over Abortion - FOXNews.com Elections

I just can't comment on this right now.. it's just too hypocritical for words.

The Catholic Church has had a good ride the past eight years, benefitting from the Bush administration's catering to the fundies and religious (so-called "faith-based") organizations in general.

While there is no love lost between dyed-in-the-wool fundamentalist Protestants and the Roman Catholic Church (each thinks they're the "true" Christians and the others are going to hell), they share the rabid anti-abortion mindset, along with other causes such as gay marriage.

I guess it's their personal choice whether to "accept" it or not. What are they going to do about it? Throw a temper tantrum because they're not getting their way anymore?

In the past, some Catholic Churches have punished Catholic politicians who vote contrary to what the Pope wants, by refusing to let them take Communion (ex-communication) or by actually refusing to let them into the church building. Since Joe Biden is Catholic, I suppose they might do that to him. I guess he understands that it is a possibility.

I remember back when Bush first took office, in January, 2001. The very first thing he did on Day One of his administration was to institute what is called "the global gag rule", which blocks U.S. funds being given to international family-planning groups that offer abortion and abortion counseling. Since the organizations need support, that rule was an attempt to force them to comply with fundamentalist religious views.

I guess the Catholic Church is getting nervous now, with good reason.

"Set a new course. There's coffee in that nebula." -- Capt. Janeway, Star Trek: Voyager

With luck and our prayers ... anyway, I hope the new political leadership doesn't crumble. As has been said a few times on this forum the churches have enjoyed a free ride for too long. I really hope the signs (e.g. the ones on the buses) indicate a new era of enlightenment.

Heh... are you kidding? Give him 2 years and Obama will be called as bad as Bush. It's the way of things. We haven't had a President thats been considered good since... uh.... ever.

I know. I remember the optimism when Labour and Blair finally got in. Poor bugger doesn't stand a chance really, with the state of the world today.Happy little soul today, aren't I?

Things are so volatile in the world that it's anyone's guess as to how Obama's popularity ratings will fluctuate, but to be honest, that should be the least of our worries. We've got some tough stuff to deal with the next several years.

We don't have a choice. If we don't get things under control (global warming, etc.), either we won't be here at all, or we'll be in such bad shape economically and physically that we won't have the energy to waste worrying about such trivial things as popularity contests and political silliness.

Maybe that's one of the gifts that living in this kind of 'crisis' time has for us. We have to start thinking about what's really important. It's not a choice between 'Obama is liked' or 'Obama is not liked.' If this doesn't work out, the result won't just be that Obama is talked about negatively. The consequences are much more dire than that. It's not a matter of Obama being the 'poor bugger who doesn't stand a chance'. If he doesn't stand a chance, then we don't stand a chance. That means all of us.

In other words, its time to wake up. That means being in reality and dealing with it. Personally, I'm optimistic.

"Set a new course. There's coffee in that nebula." -- Capt. Janeway, Star Trek: Voyager