RE: Bush, Gore Take Jesus On The Campaign Trail, St. Petersburg Times, 12/16/99
Please let me and/or your readers know what your reaction is to the pope's recent directive to the U.S. Catholic Bishops that they should require Catholic office holders to vote for and otherwise support the Catholic positions on issues or be disciplined by the church. Immediately after receiving this directive, the bishop of the Erie, PA, diocese told Tom Ridge, Governor of Pennsylvania, he will not receive the sacraments or any other any services in the diocese until he changes his position of the abortion issue. Governor Ridge doesn't favor abortions but does support a woman's right to chose whether or not to have an abortion. Other bishops procrastinated the pope didn't require immediate action and was unclear concerning possible disciplinary actions. The direction the pope wants to move on this is clear. How Catholic office holders will respond is unclear.
In a small random survey of local Catholics, I was amazed to learn they uniformly said if the Catholic office holders were not willing to support Catholic positions on issues, they should be disciplined, leave the church, and, if needed, be excommunicated.
Your attention to this would be very much appreciated.
Sincerely,
James M. O'Hara
