Since their defeat in the 2004 presidential campaign, the Democratic Party has sought to shift Catholic attention away from the party’s pro-abortion position.

But The New York Times says the issue is damaging Democrats again in 2008.

In a Sept. 16 article, the Times reported that recent comments about abortion by Democratic vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden and by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have caused some Catholic voters in the key swing state of Pennsylvania to shift support to Republican presidential nominee John McCain.

But while the Times article acknowledges abortion is hurting the Democrats with Catholics, it misrepresents the teaching of the U.S. bishops regarding how Catholics should vote.

It suggests the bishops revised their “Faithful Citizenship” document in November 2007 to make it easier for Catholics to vote for pro-abortion politicians.

In fact, the revisions were made with the goal of placing more emphasis on the responsibility to protect the sanctity of human life.

— Tom McFeely