A voice of reason in a maelstrom of condemnations

U.S. bishops,

By denouncing Notre Dame for inviting President Obama

are surely in an awkward position

The problem is that on July 10, Pope Benedict XVI will receive President Obama at the Vatican itself

will those same bishops denounce the Vatican, too, as they did Notre Dame?

It does not

mean that the pope and the Vatican have abandoned the Catholic world view on questions of the value of life or can no longer be considered "Catholic." All of which are allegations made of those who fail to judge, condemn, deny or reject Catholic politicians who seek to eliminate abortion by making it unnecessary rather than simply criminalizing abortion and ignoring the social system that breeds it.

Is the attempt

to ostracize those who seek alternative approaches to

abortion really the most effective -- and the most moral position -- a Catholic can take?

By ignoring

other social justice issues, can we

consider ourselves

grounded in a Catholic vision of the world