The Catholic Bishops have completed their general meeting and as usual the process is more significant than the final product. They did discuss same sex marriages and political participation by Catholics. On the issues of gay civil unions, they are under pressure to take a stand, on the other hand, they are trying to send a signal that they won't be coopted by the Republican party.


This was also the issue on political participation. They are emphasizing that core Catholic issues span the US politcal spectrum and as a result, Catholics do NOT HAVE A POLITICAL HOME. That was significant because they are subtlely making the case that convergence with Republicans on anti-abortion does not make a Catholic Republican. With the exception of abortion, vouchers and gay unions, there is much more convergence between Catholic values and the Democratic party: immigration, anti-poverty, TANF (gov't assistance for needy families), labor, etc.


I am going to try to work with a fellow John Kerry supporter to develop a Catholic voter guide to John Kerry. We'll see if we can lay out the issues and give both the Catholic position and Kerry's position. I suspect that there'll be convergence on a ide range of positions with the exception of vouchers, abortion and stem cell research.