More priests struggle with Obama victory

The suggestion by a South Carolina priest that Catholics who voted for Obama should not present themselves for Communion without seeking penance first has caused quite a stir -- so much so that, at the moment, his parish web site seems to be down, preventing me from posting his latest comments on the matter for you.

But in the meantime, I've noticed a couple of other indications that Catholic clergy are struggling to figure out how to respond to the victory of Barack Obama in the American presidential election. (Earlier this week, the president of the US bishops conference issued a statement offering cooperation in areas of agreement with Obama but promising to fight against any loosening of abortion restrictions; today, Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston wrote about the statement on his blog.)

In England, the bishop of Portsmouth, Crispian Hollis, had to issue a clarification after publishing on his web site a note that was viewed as overly congratulatory of Obama, according to LifeSiteNews. The bishop's initial note expressing pleasure at the Obama victory has been removed from the diocesan web site, but here is his new note:

"Barack Obama A Clarification

I would like to add some words to the statement that I issued last week on the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States of America.

I genuinely welcome his election because he represents such a different political profile from that of President Bush. America – and the world – needs that political change and will benefit from it.

However, I am aware of what he has said about abortion and about the so-called freedom of choice and I deplore his words. There is no way in which I endorse his position on these crucial “life” matters, nor, as a Catholic bishop, could I ever do so.

Perhaps it’s naïve to say this but I hope and pray that the realities of the political process will mean that he has to temper his personal policies on these all important life issues and pay serious attention to the outrage with which many view his “life” agenda.

Bishop Crispian Hollis"

Meanwhile, in California, a reporter has filed a police report claiming that a priest attacked him when he asked about a parishioner who said the priest threw her out of the church parking lot during Mass because she had Obama signs on her car.