[Torie]

But the Bishop doesn't think Daschle is Catholic either, so Daschle and I in that sense are in the same box. The Bishop thinks neither of us is Catholic, and both are "immoral." And he has not standing to "order" us to do anything. He has standing to give his opinion. That's it.

[GirlShortstop]

But the Bishop doesn't think Daschle is Catholic either, so Daschle and I in that sense are in the same box.

I remain unconvinced that your example applies.  The letter/announcement by the Bishop was delivered to a person who claimed himself as a Catholic.  You and Dashole are not (or were not) in the "same box".  FReegards.

[ninenot]

He has standing to give his opinion. That's it.

Wrong legal system. Canon Law, unlike US law, is based on the old Roman legal system, not 'common law/Blackstone.'

[Campion]

Daschle and I in that sense are in the same box. The Bishop thinks neither of us is Catholic, and both are "immoral."

No, you really aren't "in the same box". You aren't claiming to be a Catholic. Daschle is, and he's even trading on that identity in an attempt to win votes.

And he has not standing to "order" us to do anything.

He has every standing to order Catholics in his diocese to obey him in matters of faith and morals. Daschle claims to be a Catholic in his diocese; you don't. Hence Daschle ought to obey him, or retract his claim to be Catholic.

[Knither]

You and Daschle are not in the same box. You didn't claim to be a Catholic in order to get Catholic votes. Daschle did. The bishop cannot legally order Daschle to stop using the claim to be Catholic -- not in any way that would hold up in the civil courts. But he can legally order Daschle not to call himself Catholic within the Catholic Church. If Daschle doesn't care about whether or not he is considered Catholic by the Church he claims to belong to, then the bishop's demand just calls attention to Daschle's claiming to be Catholic which is at odds with the Church. It is a heads up to Catholic voters who might be tempted to vote for him because he's Catholic.