If an edict is passed by the Vatican
Who said anything about the Vatican? The article says "bishops of the United States," not the Vatican or the College of Cardinals or any other group from anywhere but the good ol' US of A.
and a religious politician obeys that edict rather than uphold a freedom granted to his constituents by the Constitution, then that politician is comitting a Federal crime.
It's seems quite straightforward to me.
I would agree, if the US bishops who want to do this actually manage to get the other US bishops to agree (which I think is pretty unlikely), and if a politician or judge violated their constitutional or legal duties for fear of this retribution, then I would say yes, they should be prosecuted.
But as I said, I don't think this will go through. There is a war going on right now within the Roman Catholic Church between those who think the reforms of Vatican II went too far or maybe even should be completely repealed and those who think that the reforms didn't go far enough. Right now there's a pretty close balance between those two extremist wings and the majority (swing voters, if you will) who are somewhere in the middle. JP II is definitely on the side of minimizing many of the reforms, as are typically the older, more conservative cardinals and bishops (leaving out priests and parishoners for now).
I don't think the swing voters will let this one happen. At least, I certainly hope they don't, because that would lead to the marginalization of the RCC.
Reggie Bautista
_________________________________________________________________
From Beethoven to the Rolling Stones, your favorite music is always playingon MSN Radio Plus. No ads, no talk. Trial month FREE! http://join.msn.com/?page=offers/premiumradio
_______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
