Peter Kinder chastises Catholic leadership

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder is calling for social conservatives and the state's Republican leadership to "take a deep breath, sit down and work" on their disagreements -- now that the legislative session is over.

Some socially conservative groups, notably Missouri Right to Life and the Missouri Catholic Conference, are still puffed up and angry over the Legislature's failure to further restrict abortions or to impose a ban on a stem-cell procedure called "therapeutic cloning."

Kinder, who opposes abortion but also opposes the cloning ban, is a bit ticked at such critics. In fact, his suggested changes include the ouster of Catholic Conference head Larry Weber.

"I think the Catholic Conference needs some new leadership in the capital, and that is a widely held view among Republicans," Kinder said.

Rather than talk to GOP leaders, Kinder said, Weber prefers to issue "thunderbolts in the press."

From yestreday's Post Dispatch "Political Fix" column by Jo Mannies