Terry Mattingly takes a look at some of the coverage

The issue for the Catholic bishops is whether these doctrines (and Vatican directives) have any authority in their zip codes. If they are able to make up their minds — a huge “if” — they face the wrath of the authority that many of them fear the most. That would be the New York Times. It is safe to say that, in the opinion of the Times, it would violate the separation of church and state for bishops to deny Communion to Kerry. Perhaps there will need to be a law against bishops doing such a thing.