[SuziQ]

Another example of "catholic lite". How disappointing!

It might be more a case of an iron fist in a velvet glove. It might give those Catholic politicians some pause and make them think about the final results of their votes.

If the Vatican had come out directly with an 'excommunication' notice, don't you think those same politicians would have immediately gotten their backs up and taken the attitude "They can't tell ME what to do!" It is human nature to not want to be controlled. I believe The Vatican understands this, and wants to 'enlighten' those folks rather than turn them right off!

[RobbyS]

Two years ago, Pope John Paul II made More the patron saint for politicians. ``He taught by his life and his death that 'man cannot be separated from God, nor politics from morality,''' the document said. In 1935 Pius XI went forward with the vanonization for More, waiving the usual miracle verification, saying that he--the pope--wanted each man to know exactly what is expected of him. War was on the horizon.