As for Krikorian’s “Big Tent” issues with Gerson, I agree — when Gerson asserts that Catholic social thought is one of only two “intellectually vital” issues within the Republican party I’m not sure I know what he’s talking about. Catholic social thought was once comfortably at home in the Democratic party as late as the 1960s, and just because their natural party abandoned them on social issues (something my friend Mark Stricherz argues has cost the Dems dearly in elections since then) doesn’t mean they are now at home in the Republican tent. The GOP is grateful for such votes and the support on abortion, but it would be foolish roll out the welcome mat for their entire social policy agenda.