[narses]

"Did his refusal not backfire?"

Nope, not really. But more important, did the Sacramento Bishop create a backlash favoring Grey Davis? Your claim is that denial will create a backlash, the Bishop took a very public and principled stand (thank God for faithful Bishops) and the public accepted that. It was over ABORTION Deacon, in California, a battleground state. Your 'analysis', staked on a decades old legislative race, pales when compared to a statewide, recent race.

This is a critical debate and I appreciate very much your clearly mainstream view. The FACTS though are against you.

[sinkspur]

But more important, did the Sacramento Bishop create a backlash favoring Grey Davis? Your claim is that denial will create a backlash, the Bishop took a very public and principled stand (thank God for faithful Bishops) and the public accepted that. It was over ABORTION Deacon, in California, a battleground state. Your 'analysis', staked on a decades old legislative race, pales when compared to a statewide, recent race.

One, Weigand did not refuse the Eucharist to Davis. He advised him to not approach, the same thing O'Malley has done with Kerry.

Second, the election in California was over the day Arnold announced.

Third, California is not reflective of the country as a whole.