[BikerNYC]

I wish the Vatican would start getting tougher on the pro-choice Catholics, and tell them either stop voting pro-choice, or leave the church.

This, I think, gets to the problem that some have with the issue.

Do people have cause to be concerned that a judge or politician or whatever, will change his or her stand on an issue to conform it to the teaching of the church, in the case of Catholicism, the church being a foreign governmental entity, so as not to run the risk of being kicked out of a church they may view as very important to their lives?

In other words, while a person of any denomination may be subject to threats or blackmail to change their position on something or risk getting kicked out, are catholic politicians or judges more of a concern because the church is a foreign government as well?

[Northern Yankee]

...are catholic politicians or judges more of a concern because the church is a foreign government as well?

Good question.

I think that if you're looking for the salvation of your soul, and following the laws set down by God, wouldn't it be more logical to put your first allegiance to the thing most important in your life, that is the hope of getting to Heaven.

What Christ said 2000 years ago holds just as much weight today as it did when he was addressing the Sahendrin:

"What profits a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul."