In light of the abhorrent fact that 50 percent of voting Catholics think it's morally acceptable to support abortion, Catholic bishops must take forceful action and impose interdict on pro-choice Catholic politicians. And misguided Catholics must be told that it's a grave sin to support this evil.

This assertive church policy would threaten people with different political persuasions because to further their own interests they like to perpetuate the falsehood that this policy would violate the "separation of church and state" constitutional clause. But the Constitution doesn't prohibit religious leaders from advising church members how or for whom to vote. The aforementioned constitutional clause was adopted to prevent the government from recognizing or establishing one particular religion. In other words, all religions are welcome in the United States to freely practice their faith without government interference.

However it's been the custom of the Catholic Church not to endorse a specific candidate, not because it cannot do so, but more so out of respect for the right of citizens to vote according to their conscience and to honor the democratic process. But when Catholics don't act according to the teachings of their faith, bishops must be proactive to correct the error of their ways.

I'm sure these pro-choice Catholics wonder how some of the German people could have been indifferent to the wholesale slaughter of millions of Jewish people. But the actions of these indifferent Catholics are worse than the actions of the German people because they're actively supporting a great evil.

John A. Mitan

Collinsville