A few decades ago, there was much worrying when JFK ran for President. Because he was a Catholic, people wondered if the Catholic Church would try to exercise undue influence on our government. Eventually, he announced that he did not speak for the Church - and the Church did not speak for him.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) -- The bishop of Colorado's second-largest Roman Catholic diocese issued a stark warning Friday, saying voters should not receive Communion if they back politicians who support abortion rights, stem-cell research, euthanasia and gay marriage.

It is now officially an act of courage for a Catholic to support any politician who supports any of those, and I want to say how proud I am to live in a democracy where there are so many who do so.