Catholic:"Not narrow-minded, partial, or bigoted; liberal; as, catholic tastes."

According to the Associated Press, Thursday "A South Carolina Roman Catholic priest has told his parishioners that they should refrain from receiving Holy Communion if they voted for Barack Obama because the Democratic president-elect supports abortion, and supporting him "constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil.""

This priest, this man of God, has decided to pose his own views on his congregation rather than the teachings of Jesus Christ as he was ordained to do. Reverend Jay Scott Norman sent out a letter to his parishioners informing that if they voted for Obama than they should refrain from taking communion until they have done "penance for their vote".

Usually I try not be overly critical (Yes, I do!), but this is ridiculous and borderline abusive. A church is where many find hope, faith and, supposedly unconditional love.

Now many other parish priests have spoken out against Obama for his pro-choice stance and lectured the parishioners against voting for him. I have no problem with that. I discussed with many of my friends and loved ones the issues I had with both McCain and Obama, put I have no intention of punishing those who disagreed with me, which is exactly what Rev. Norman is doing.

Rev. Norman argues that voting for Obama is "...material cooperation with intrinsic evil...". Well, then under his argument anyone who voted for McCain or Bush is guilty of breaking the fifth commandment(sixth depending on which version you read) as well.

Bush is the father of two concurrent wars were tens of thousands of lives have been lost. McCain stated on the record that we could spend the next 100 YEARS killing people(I mean, fighting for freedom) in Iraq if we have to. Do those Catholics who voted for McCain have to do penance for their vote as well?

"Judge Not, Lest Ye Be Judged" - Matthew 7:1.

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The only way to make sure people you agree with can speak is to support the rights of people you don't agree with. -Eleanor Holmes Norton

You cannot make yourself feel something you do not feel, but you can make yourself do right in spite of your feelings.-Pearl S. Buck

Ultimately, America's answer to the intolerant man is diversity, the very diversity which our heritage of religious freedom has inspired.-Robert S. Kennedy

The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.-Thomas Jefferson

Three days ago the first African American man was voted President of the United States. An landmark moment that illustrated just how far the American people have come on the road to equality.

...And on that same day, African Americans showed just how far they still have to go as a people to show that same equality to others. According to MSNBC.com, 7 out of 10 African Americans in California voted for Prop 8, a law which effectively denies Gays and Lesbians the right to marry. I am not going to argue for or against homosexuality. Your beliefs or your beliefs. What I do have a problem with is government forcing those beliefs on to others.

Not that long ago in the U.S. interracial marriage, the marriage between two people of different race, was against the law. It wasn't until 1967 was it completely erased in every state. How can I compare these two laws? Both times the government put stipulations on something that was none of their business.

I am a heterosexual, christian black female. I am also a staunch supporter of the seperation of church and state. I don't want the government telling me what I can do in my house and I will lobby for my neighbor to have that same right. The right for two people to commit themselves to the one they hold most dear is not something the government should have the right to sanction or not.

The idea that we as African Americans would help to deny another group the equality that we celebrated just a mere three days ago? That's just sad.

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