This question may seem odd, given that we just nominated a Catholic for President in 2004, but a lot of Catholics, a traditionally Democratic base, voted Republican this year, even though the
Pope condemned the invasion of Iraq.
To receive an endorsement or gain the nomination of the Democratic Party in much of the nation, a Catholic candidate today must publicly renounce some of the most fundemental beliefs of his or her religion - namely those beliefs regarding the origin and meaning of life itself.
Are members of any other major religion subjected to this by the Democratic Party? Baptists? Muslims, maybe?
Can Democrats as a party expect to win if they alienate political leaders from the nation's largest denomination?
Here are some other facts to consider regarding this question: