This is despicable on the part of those trying to co-opt Church doctrine through politics. I'm an atheist and I can see the treachery of this. Liberals are going to have to face up to the fact that Catholicism, which is the really the root of Western Christianity is immovably against abortion and does not accept the homosexual lifestyle. If these ideas seem incompitable with liberals, then it is time for them to find another faith. Yet my feeling is I doubt they are that sincere in their Christian or Catholic faith anyway.
They are not the first, nor will they be the last.
BTW, you seem to be a rather enlightened atheist--keep it up!