Yesterday the big story out of the North East was that of the abortion fight between Bishop Thomas Tobin and Congressman Patrick Kennedy.  The Congressman had let it be known that two years ago the Bishop had asked parishes not to provide Mr. Kennedy with the host sacrament because of his political stance on abortion. 

This entire affair has reawakened the fight between public servants and the influence of religious officials on public policy and established law.  In that spirit, the Bishop appeared on Hardball with Chris Mathews last night to talk seriously about this issue.

Here's the video and scroll down for a snippet of dialogue:



Mathews:  Should the Law outlaw, should it ban abortion?  Is that what a good Catholic should do because you're instructing people now on how to vote?  Tell Catholics now, on television how they should vote as members of congress.

Rev. Thomas:  Sure.  Catholics should vote as members of Congress on laws that preserve and protect human right.  I don't know that I'm in a position to comment on specific pieces of legislation because no, there are hundreds of them and thousands of them.

Mathews:  But would you outlaw.  Let me ask you a broad question.  Would you outlaw it?

Rev. Thomas:  Absolutely, because it is the taking of innocent human life.

Mathews: Yeah, I know. Right.  So that's your difference with Congressman Kennedy, he wouldn't outlaw it.  Isn't that your difference?

Rev. Thomas: That's a huge difference.  Keep in mind I didn't go after Congressman Kennedy, I didn't single him out, I didn't look for him, I responded to thigns he said when he innitiated this first unprovoked attack. 

*Snip*

Mathews:  What would be the penalty for a woman getting an abortion in the world you'd like to construct here?

Rev. Thomas:  I have no idea what the penalty would be because I'm not a legislator and...

Mathews:  But you're telling Congress people how to vote and what laws to pass.  What law should be passed for abortion?