Kerry Vs The Pope

John Kerry's stance on abortion is building up into a full out confrontation with the Catholic Church:

Priests and bishops across America are being urged by members to refuse Communion to the first Catholic to run for the presidency since John F. Kennedy. The sanction would be imposed until Mr Kerry abandoned his permissive views on abortion and other issues such as gay marriages.

The campaign - which has the explicit blessing of the Vatican - is gathering force and, with Holy Week drawing near, Mr Kerry's aides have been forced to visit churches before allowing him to attend Mass. Rome has become increasingly concerned about the possibility of an avowedly Catholic president who is both pro-choice and approves of gay civil unions.

In typical Kerry fashion he tries to defuse the situation:

Mr Kerry has described himself as a "believing and practising Catholic" who is "personally" against abortion, but believes in a strong separation of Church and State.

What exactly does 'the separation of Church and State' have to do with his position on abortion? There are many people who are non-religious who are opposed to abortion.

This is simply another instance of Kerry spinning his beliefs so that they are more acceptable to a large portion of the American public. He is incapable of making a principled stand on any moral issues of our day. Note to Mr. Kerry: Abortion has nothing to do with religion.

The real kicker in all of this is:

Within the Kerry campaign there are rumours that Mr Kerry may yet decide to confront his challengers head-on. One aide was reported last week to be searching for a Church with a hostile priest.

According to rumour, Mr Kerry would attend Mass knowing that he would be refused Communion in the full glare of the media. Sympathetic Catholics would then be expected to rally to his cause.

They have to be kidding? Confronting the Church? It is quite possible that not only have Democrats lost their minds but they've also lost their 'political' minds. Do they actually think that confronting the Church will rally anyone to his cause? People who already reject faith surely will rally behind him but he's already got their support pretty much wrapped up.

I really hope something comes of this. It will make one of the biggest political stories in years.

If Kerry thinks he can take on the Church and win, that's proof enough that this presidential campaign has inflated his head.