Catholic Democrats urge parishes to be nonpartisan

BOSTON (AP) - The group Catholic Democrats has faxed letters to nearly 900 parishes urging pastors to prevent partisan politicking there in the days before Tuesday's election.

The Massachusetts-based group says Catholics nationwide are upset about political messages conveyed at parishes, such as in homilies or in the leafleting of cars on church property.

Group president Steve Krueger says the underlying message is that you can't be a good Catholic and vote Democrat, and that's wrong. He says the church should bridge partisan divides, not widen them.

The letters ask pastors to distribute election guidelines from the Conference of Catholic Bishops that say the church doesn't support or oppose any candidates.

The letters were faxed to parishes in Massachusetts and Virginia, states where Krueger said the group had sufficient personnel to send them.

Cox Media Group