[O71394658]

I would tend to disagree with your statement.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that the Republican Party has actively recruited members of a religious organization they despise. Saying that the Republican Party as a whole has a palpable disdain for Catholics is a little far-fetched.

Catholics, or people who say they're Catholics may align themselves along party lines for several reasons. They may be attracted to the moral issues of the conservative camp, or the "Robin Hood" positions Liberals take on social welfare and other issues of the sort. Catholics who are pro-choice or pro-life may not be bound to their decisions by their religion. They may just feel that, despite what most religious people would argue, that a women does have the right to choose. The only reason that they may have drawn fire from opposite-minded Catholics would be that it would be out of line with what the Church teaches. Perhaps the Congressman isn't really that religious? Or perhaps the Congressman has purposelly disregarded his religious stance in the matter because it conflicts with the stance he believes he should take as a representative of the people. I would tend to believe that the religious influence the Church possesses over each Catholic individaul has a high variance.

The fact that the issues themselves may or may not have been "pushed", is in my opinion, inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. I wouldn't tend to think that Republicans are touting the moral red flag because it's an election year...I think they've always touted the moral flag over the Democrats...the only reason that such issues have come up is that those issues have been popular in recent media events, and several Congressmen have voiced their opinons on matters of public importance. Gay marriage and abortion are definitely hot-button issues within the coming election, so I would think that the Rep. Party would tow the moral line, as it always has. Your assumption that this has been done by Catholic-hating-Christians is I think merely that, an unfound assumption.