Attack on Biden an Attack on Majority of Catholics

After some Republican-leaning bishops condemned John Kerry, the Catholic presidential candidate in 2004, for his support of abortion rights, Senator Ted Kennedy organized an off-the-record meeting of 20 bishops and Catholic senators. He recalled later how genteel his Senate colleagues had been, but the feeling was not mutual. With great earnestness, one bishop said his criticism of the Democrats "had nothing to do with politics," but rather represented his "concern for your mortal souls!" Kennedy laughed as he opined, "You know they're on thin ice when their best argument is threatening eternal damnation if you don't agree with them."