Social Justice Catholics fight back against the Church's elite Repubican hierarchy

The Catholic hierarchy, comprised of Bishops and Cardinals, is the elite wing of the church. They're very well off, treated like royalty -- and are also the ones who covered up the sex abuse scandal. They're the church leaders who let the anti-semite, homophobic Bill Donahue speak for them. And, they're Republicans

Then, there are Catholics who actually believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ. They believe in social justice. They try to live the Beatitudes. And, they're mostly Democrats. I grew up Catholic. I know a lot of social justice Catholics.

Every four years, for the past couple decades, the hierarchy of the Catholic church has tried to impose its political will on American Catholics. This year is very different. While the bishops are doing their usual drama, progressive Catholics are fighting back:

As the Roman Catholic Church observes its annual “respect life” Sunday in this heated presidential election season, the unusually pitched competition for Catholic voters is setting off a round of skirmishes over how to apply the church’s teachings not only on abortion but also on the war in Iraq, immigration and racism.

In a departure from previous elections, Democrats and liberal Catholic groups are waging a fight within the church, arguing that the Democratic Party better reflects the full spectrum of church teachings.

It is a contest for credibility among observant Catholics, with each faction describing itself as a defender of “life.” The two sides disagree over how to address the “intrinsic evil” of abortion.

The escalating efforts by more-liberal Catholics are provoking a vigorous backlash from some bishops and the right.

In Scranton, Pa., every Catholic attending Mass this weekend will hear a special homily about the election next month: Bishop Joseph Martino has ordered every priest in the diocese to read a letter warning that voting for a supporter of abortion rights amounts to endorsing “homicide.”

“Being ‘right’ on taxes, education, health care, immigration and the economy fails to make up for the error of disregarding the value of a human life,” the bishop wrote. “It is a tragic irony that ‘pro-choice’ candidates have come to support homicide — the gravest injustice a society can tolerate — in the name of ‘social justice.’ ”

In response, a coalition of liberal lay Catholics is pushing back, criticizing the bishop’s message for neglecting other aspects of “life” talked about in Catholic social teachings, like concern for the poor.

In my experience, most Catholics don't pay a bit of attention to what their bishops says. John McCain and Sarah Palin will love the message from the bishop and the media will cover it, but it will fall on deaf ears across the country.

After all, these are the same bishops who tell their congregations not to use condoms or other birth control methods -- and who think people should only have sex to procreate....you know how many Catholics listen to that?