Bishops to fight Obama

CATHOLIC CHURCH | Will confront new president on abortion

BALTIMORE -- The nation's Roman Catholic bishops vowed Tuesday to forcefully confront the Obama administration over its support for abortion rights, saying the church and religious freedom could be under attack in the new presidential administration.

In an impassioned discussion on Catholics in public life, several bishops said they would accept no compromise on abortion policy.

Many condemned Catholics who had argued it was morally acceptable to back President-elect Barack Obama because he pledged to reduce abortion rates.

Bishop Joseph Martino of Scranton, Pa., said he planned to counter Vice President-elect Joe Biden, a Catholic, Scranton native who supports abortion rights.

''I cannot have a vice president-elect coming to Scranton to say he's learned his values there when those values are utterly against the teachings of the Catholic Church,'' Martino said. The Obama-Biden press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Archbishop Joseph Naumann of the Diocese of Kansas City in Kansas said politicians ''can't check your principles at the door of the legislature.''

Naumann has said repeatedly that Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Catholic Democrat who supports abortion rights, should stop taking holy communion until she changes her stance.

''They cannot call themselves Catholic when they violate such a core belief as the dignity of the unborn,'' Naumann said Tuesday.

Chicago Cardinal Francis George, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, is preparing a statement during the bishops' fall meeting that will press Obama on abortion.

Along with their theological opposition to the procedure, church leaders say they worry that any expansion in abortion rights could require Catholic hospitals to perform abortions or face legal sanctions. Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Chicago said the hospitals would close rather than comply.

During the campaign, many prelates had spoken out on abortion more boldly than they had in 2004.

Yet, according to exit polls, 54 percent of Catholics chose Obama, who is Protestant.

Patrick Whelan, president of Catholic Democrats, said angry statements from church leaders were counterproductive.

''We're calling on the bishops to move away from the more vicious language,'' Whelan said. AP