[Terriergal]

I would think then that by your reasoning, the Church's excommunication of say, Martin Luther would be objectionable too? Granted, that didn't take place in America or any place run like America, however the Church's theoritical Ultimate governing Authority (meaning God) has not changed since those days. But suppose someone like Martin Luther started challenging the Church nowadays in America? Would the Church be justified in excommunication? Being raised Lutheran myself, and being protestant still, I think the Catholic church has every right to excommunicate who it feels violates its tenets.

[Torie]

I would have no problem in the Catholic Church excummincating Daschle, as long as several thousand or million other Catholics who publically advocated policies The Church thought beyond the pale were excommunicated as well. In fact, while I think such a position imprudent froma a practical standpoint, from a consistent moral standpoint it makes perfect sense, and I would post nothing to decry it. Indeed, it would be none of my business. Just why doesn't the Bishop move to excommunicate Daschle by the way? Perhaps that is beyond his pay grade, which I would understand, but then that puts the ball in a higher court.