From the Folks Who Brought You Catholics Against Kerry...

While we're discussing Rudy...

Actually, I've been on the look out for this since Rudy threw his hat in the ring. After the incredible amount of energy spent attacking John Kerry during the last Presidential campaign, I had to wonder whether there would be any consistency among those Catholics in dealing with Republican Catholic candidates -- like Rudy -- with objectionable positions on life. Steve Dillard, and his coalition of blogs, has answered that question with Catholics Against Rudy, a new site being launched to challenge Rudy on his life position.

Personally, I thought we already had Catholics against Rudy. I know we have a unanimous opposition to Rudy among Catholics for Democracy's steering committee; and very many Catholics I speak to, frequently, oppose Rudy. But it doesn't hurt to have a website, consisting of a coalition of blogs, to get the word out that Rudy should not be the Republican candidate. Besides, I get the idea that Steve and most of the people among his coalition of blogs are actually Republican. That would be a little more helpful when speaking to the Republican debate. After all, I'm a Democrat (I think people know that already). I don't think too many Republicans read my blog; though they might read Michael's blog here, he's married to a soccer mom.

If Steve Dillard gets nothing else, he gets kudos for consistency.

The only thing I would caution him on is that he needs to avoid downing the bishops if they do not follow his lead publicly opposing Rudy. Cardinal Ratzinger -- now Pope Benedict XVI -- had given guidance to the bishops on how to respond to Catholics in public office who are pro-choice. It seems to appear the bishops will be complying, this time around, with those instructions. Not going public is not necessarily a sign the bishops are not equal opportunity opposers. They could simply be acting respectfully on those instructions that came out of the Vatican.

Of course, those instructions were written as guidance to bishops. I'm not a bishop, so I'll publicly oppose Rudy all I want... and I'll challenge his claim to being the Catholic candidate. As far as I know, Steve Dillard is a layperson too; so I welcome him aboard the anti-Rudy bandwagon. I'm sure Steve and I differ in some of our motivations. But, at this point, who cares? So long as the result is the same!