What I can't figure out is, why hasn't a bishop come out publicly to deny Santorum communion?

[kpete]

Like you, I have serious misgivings about a "moral" candidate for the presidency (i.e. Santorum) defending torture techniques. From the official Catechism of the Catholic Church (2297): "Torture which uses physical or moral violence to extract confessions, punish the guilty, frighten opponents, or satisfy hatred is contrary to respect for the person and for human dignity." What I can't figure out is, why hasn't a bishop come out publicly to deny Santorum communion? When John Kerry was running for president, no less than future pope Ratzinger stated that Kerry should be denied communion, which he ultimately was. Where is Ratzinger now? Where is Raymond Burke? Sean O'Malley?

Rick Santorum (and Gingrich, too) hold many more stances that directly violate the Catechism than Kerry did. Why do you think they've been silent on the two death penalty-endorsing, torture-praising, social welfare-cutting Catholics who could potentially be our next president?

http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2012/02/the-moral-scandal-of-rick-santorum-and-enhanced-interrogation-techniques-ctd.html

[atreides1]

1. Why have they been silent?

Because all that matters is the church's agenda against women...

[Plucketeer]

2. I'd wager that

the bishops don't worry as much if it's folks of a different faith that are being tortured. Beyond that, they probably worry about losing some of their flocks if there was the appearance of sympathies to muslims.

[Arkansas Granny]

3. John Kerry was denied communion because of his views on abortion.

We've suspected for a long time that the "unborn" are more important political issue that the already born. This just seems to strengthen that suspicion.

[dgibby]

4. Just a guess,

but he's probably a heavy donor.

[libinnyandia]

9. I think his tax returns showed he doesn't give that much to charities.

[southernyankeebelle]

5. He is pro life. That simple.

[CatholicEdHead]

6. Abortion has a special status

in that it has been declared a black and white issue (often lots of grey area before it happens in real life) by the bishops. Torture is a official grey area and "people of good will" can disagree on it. "People of good will" is inside Vatican speak (now brought to local parishes) to refer to just "faithful" Catholics (who follow Rome 100%).

[HopeHoops]

7. Mr. Frothy's "communion" is a Ritz cracker and a bottle of red pop.

[rurallib]

8. It would be bad for business

bottom line: the church is a big business.

At the time kicking Kerry seemed like a good business decision.

[tanyev]

10. Because all the bishops that would make a public issue of denying communion are right wingers.