Here.

Since support for abortion on the part of Catholic politicians is objectively a scandal, bishops have responded by teaching publicly and speaking privately to Catholic office holders. Because these measures have not been particularly successful, the question now is whether sanctions of some sort should be applied. There are complications. On the part of the Church, the 1983 Code of Canon Law makes it quite difficult to apply public sanctions on individuals; on the part of society, sanctions by bishops against politicians may be pastorally unwise and publicly harmful. In this culture, victims always have the moral upper hand. Blacks can be victims, Jews can be victims, American Indians can be victims, gays can be victims, women can be victims, even Muslims living here in the United States can be victims. By definition, however, Catholics cannot be victims, except for those Catholics who like to portray themselves as “oppressed” by the Church’s teachings. They make the best victims of all.

Nonetheless, a response seems called for, and the bishops have a group of their number considering the range of responses possible. Because a line is being crossed in applying public sanctions, it would be pastorally wise for the bishops to act together. Some Catholics who would like to transform the Church into a vehicle for their particular preferences are impatient to have the bishops act exactly as they demand. No matter what the bishops do or don’t do, however, each Catholic voter has to form his or her judgements, even in political issues, according to the faith. This is still a democratic state; voters get the government they elect, not one selected by bishops. In choosing whom to elect, voters should ask how a politician can compartmentalize faith and life and still be a person of integrity.