Cateschism

It seems some elements of the Catholic church in particular has taken the pro-choice initiative to Obama, going so far as to penalize those who chose to vote for him. Sort of a pro-anti-pro-choice stance.

A Dallas Morning News blog pointed out

In a letter distributed at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greenville, S.C., the Rev. Jay Scott Newman says parishioners who supported Barack Obama (or, as the priest put it, "Barack Hussein Obama") are putting their souls at risk if they receive Holy Communion before doing penance for their "cooperation with intrinsic evil" -- voting for a pro-choice candidate.

Meanwhile over on the Other Coast, an SF Bay area ABC news affiliate reported,

The Catholic Diocese of Sacramento is investigating an incident which took place before a mass last Sunday.

Elizabeth Castor was thrilled when Barack Obama won the presidency. The native of Kenya decided to decorate her SUV with his name and the word 'victory.'

"He went to the mic and said the owner of the grey SUV with the Obama signs has to move. "I felt humiliated."

Caster said Father Sebastian Meyer then followed she and her young son out to the parking lot and allegedly told her not to re-park, but to leave the church property.

"I couldn't believe what I was hearing," Caster said.

Some of the church leadership balks at taking on their own to fight the cause. In the California case, the report noted,

An official from the Sacramento diocese said an investigation was underway into what happened.

"It's not the church's place to criticize people for who they vote for," said Sacramento Catholic Diocese spokesman Kevin Eckery.

Bishops React to Priest who Told Obama-Supporting Catholics to Confess before Receiving Communion

A South Carolina Catholic priest who advised Obama supporters in his flock not to receive Communion before going to confession elicited polarized responses from the Catholic community - ranging from outrage at a misuse of authority to warm praise for championing Church teaching on abortion.

The article examined both sides of the debate, and alluded to other related articles:

Can Catholics Who Vote for Obama Still Receive Communion? http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jun/08061208.html

Special Report: Worthiness to Receive Holy Communion, General Principles
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/apr/050419a.html

The www and blogoshpere is full of the debate as any quick search will reveal.

So don't expect much in the way of an Obama honeymoon period.

And while sitting on the supposed divide between church and state, there is this little imbroglio:

Preacher Appeals Sentence for Article Predicting God Would Smite Judge

An activist preacher in Michigan is appealing his sentence of up to 10 years in prison for writing an article predicting that God would smite the judge who oversaw his trial and conviction for paying patrons of a soup kitchen to vote.

The Rev. Edward Pinkney was sentenced in June to three to 10 years in jail for violating his probation in the voting case by making a threat against the judge

An ACLU brief in support of the motion (PDF) claims the sentence violates Pinkney’s First Amendment rights.

Sayeth the preacherman,

Judge Butzbaugh, it shall come to pass; if thou continue not to hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God to observe to do all that is right; which I command thee this day, that all these Curses shall come upon you and your family, curses shalt be in the City of St. Joseph and Cursed shalt thou be in the field, cursed shall come upon you and your family and over take thee; cursed shall be the fruit of thy body. The Lord shall smite thee with consumption and with a fever and with an inflammation and with extreme burning. They the demons shall Pursue thee until thou persist.