about Catholic pols and abortion: Amy Sullivan talks about the bishops’ attempts to influence and even “coerce” politicians. She talks about how they stay their hand in other respects in order to avoid a backlash. Let’s leave aside my point about legislating vs. judging. In either case, influencing political outcomes should be entirely beside the point.

The bishops may and should do all sorts of things to try to persuade legislators and fellow citizens to do justice to the unborn. But a bishop owes members of his flock the truth about the spiritual consequences of their vote regardless of the effects of his truth-telling. Let’s say that he knows for certain–somehow; maybe Hari Seldon told him–that telling Catholic politicians not to present themselves for communion if they vote for legal abortion will generate a backlash that will cause the pro-abortion side to win in the legislature. He still has an obligation to the souls of the legislators for whom he takes special responsibility. All of this may seem nonsensical to people who don’t accept Catholic doctrine or believe in sin or souls at all. But Catholic bishops shouldn’t be faulted for thinking that way.