BISHOPS CONFERENCE WITHDRAWS PRESIDENTIAL QUESTIONNAIRE

In a letter released to the US Bishops on Friday, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops' Office of Government Liaison announced they have withdrawn the Presidential Questionnaire which had been delivered weeks ago to the Bush and Kerry campaigns. At this moment the press office ofthe USCCB has no statement prepared but we are told by diocesan sources that at least one of the campaigns did not return the questionnaire by deadline. "We have been critical of the Presidential Questionnaire because it improperly equates doctrinal issues like abortion with judgment calls like the minimum wage," said Austin Ruse, President of the Culture of LifeFoundation. "We also welcome the fact that candidate Kerry will not be able to use the questionnaire to claim he is a faithful Catholic when we know he actively opposes Church teaching on fundamental issues." -Culture of Life Press Release

Is this a sign that the bishops finally "get it" when it comes to not equating opposition to abortion with issues like tax rates, immigration, the war on terror, etc? Let's hope and pray so.