Bishops Say No to Voter Guides

Rocco Palmo over at Whispers has our story by Dan Burke about the Catholic bishops’ new rule that voter guides produced by outside groups (i.e., anyone but the bishops) should be banned from Catholic parishes. The edit, which Burke uncovered Thursday, is a pretty direct slap at conservatives who had argued that most candidates can […]

Rocco Palmo over at Whispers has our story by Dan Burke about the Catholic bishops’ new rule that voter guides produced by outside groups (i.e., anyone but the bishops) should be banned from Catholic parishes.

The edit, which Burke uncovered Thursday, is a pretty direct slap at conservatives who had argued that most candidates can and must be judged on five “non-negotiable” issues-abortion, gay marriage, euthanasia, cloning and embryonic stem cell research. It was also a firm “no thank you” to more progressive groups who have argued in recent months that voters’ concerns should be more comprehensive, including poverty, the war in Iraq and the death penalty.

Baltimore’s Cardinal William Keeler said the guides are too partisan and could put the church in dicey legal terrain if it comes across as politicking:


“The Pro-Life Committee discussed this issue at length, and concluded that the wisest course in these situations _ from the standpoint of maintaining the integrity of our teaching, as well as that of avoiding legal entanglements _ is to urge parishes not to distribute voter educational materials that are not authorized and distributed by the diocese, the state Catholic conference or this Conference,” Keeler wroteâÂ?¦.

Whispers in the Loggia

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