[Bordeaux44]

my main beef with this is that the position of the papacy is that american politicians who are pro-choice be denied the sacraments. why should this apply to politicians only and not all pro-choicers?

[Alberta's Child]

There is a long-standing tradition in Christianity of exacting more severe punishment on those whose status in the eyes of the public (a king, for example) lends additional severity to the moral depravity they support. If John Q. Public were to publicly claim that beating your spouse should be perfectly legal, he might get a few people to support his position on this matter. But if John Kerry were to take this position, his status as a public official with a lot of media exposure will automatically lend credibility to the position that John Q. Public does not have -- thereby making Kerry an "occasion of sin" to an enormous number of people.

[Reeses]

why should this apply to politicians only and not all pro-choicers?

It does apply to all pro-choicers but the church relies on the honor system. They need the revenue. Populous policy makers don't have honor or shame like the rest of us, nor are they big sources of church donations.

[Fifthmark]

why should this apply to politicians only and not all pro-choicers?

It should and will once the Vatican and the American bishops begin to do what is right regardless of the consequences. The idea that you can be Catholic and pro-choice is an oxymoron.

That said, this is an excellent column by Mr. Sobran.

[Protagoras]

my main beef with this is that the position of the papacy is that american politicians who are pro-choice be denied the sacraments. why should this apply to politicians only and not all pro-choicers?

It does. No more beef.

[ThanhPhero]

why should this apply to politicians only and not all pro-choicers

Individual pro choicers are not giving scandal to the church so long as they are not promoting the practice. It is betwên them and God. They are receiving invalidly and are thus committing further sin when they receive.Some priests have admonished such people from the pulpit and individually but do not generally refuse them the host. The politician not only commits the primary sin but publicly promotes the sin and is thus causing scandal to the Church, scandal to the believers.