Durbin: Survey shows senators vote Vatican

This is article from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Sen. Dick Durbin released a survey Wednesday that he says shows most Catholic Democratic senators like himself vote in line with church positions - except when it comes to abortion.

"To suggest . . . that the issue of taking innocent human life is on par and has the moral equivalency of how many television stations somebody owns in Erie, Pennsylvania, is a deliberate attempt to confuse and obfuscate what is the true teaching of the church," said Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa. "They are not morally equivalent issues."

During the news conference, Durbin said the priest's statements were "a very painful experience for someone who has been a practicing Catholic for 59 years plus."

I wonder if he would like cheese with that whine?

In addition, we must be told what Catholics for a Free Choice (to murder) has to say. This is standard policy, it seems.

Last month, Catholics for a Free Choice, an abortion-rights group, surveyed most of the nation's 195 dioceses and found that four bishops have indicated they would deny Communion to Catholic politicians whose legislation is counter to Catholic teaching on some issues.

Archbishop Burke, one of the four noted above, says this:

The question really is about the first life issue, meaning the right to life of the innocent, defenseless unborn," Burke said in an interview with the Post-Dispatch on Wednesday. ". . . That issue has to be treated separately. . . . When you mix them all together and place the same importance on each, Catholic politicians who agree (with the Church) on many issues may feel they have fulfilled their moral duty."

Sen. Rick Santorum sees this as an opportune teaching moment for the bishops:

Santorum said he hopes the conference will respond to the survey: "It's an opportunity for the conference of bishops to set the record straight."

Full article here.