Between the support of Proposition 8 by the LDS and various RC statements on abortion and withholding communion, some are calling for stripping them of their 501(c)3 tax exempt status for getting involved in politics. Most of the arguments, however, misunderstand the tax law in some very basic ways.

In the aftermath of Obama's election, hardcore conservative Catholic bishops are echoing secular GOP conservatives: "We just weren't conservative enough." Right. That's why the conservative bishops couldn't get one of their own elected to head up the USCCB's Pro-Life Activities committee, losing by a vote of 165-59.

There are some very personal reasons that I support a woman's right to choose -- based on her circumstances, her history, and all the factors that go into making such a difficult decision. A lot of it has to do with my own history. And also the difficulties I have seen in the lives of women and children that I have met throughout my legal practice. Let me start with the personal. Technically -- at least by the standard definition of abortion as an induced termination of a pregnancy -- I have had one. It was a medical necessity, due to my life being at risk because of a complication, and one of the most agonizing times of our lives....

The 1600 Crew is again determined to undermine the public welfare for ideology, no matter what the cost to our society. As the former (and some present) DoJ idealogues and their schemes are revealed at painful Senate hearings, it seems that in another completely different arena the undercover idealogues are trying to assert their agenda and force a last-minute change in Health and Human Services rules to allow "health care workers" to discriminate against women (or anyone else) who desire reproductive services or any health care that the "worker" does not want to provide.

Obama chose homophobic anti-choice evangelical Rick Warren to host his first campaign appearance with McCain.

You have to wonder if the concept of "pro-life" extends itself to the war on Iraq. Especially to the teens who like to wear those gruesome T-shirts.

Leah Daughtry is Howard Dean's Chief of Staff at the Democratic National Committee, as well as the chief executive of our convention in Denver next month. She also heads up a multi-faith advisory team within the DNC called Faith In Action (F.I.A.)

Last Sunday, we had some fun as we chat about the good, great, and fabulous recommendations we might make to Senator Obama, were he to ask our advice about a Vice Presidential nominee. Tonight, I thought we might flip that argument on its head and talk about the "No," "NO!" and "Hell, NO!" characters who are occupying the chatterati lately.

I will never, ever forgive Digby for putting this image in my brain -- complete with Rod Stewart-esque tight leather pants -- regarding McCain's quest to woo the wimmins: ...I never dreamed he'd go this route...

(Please welcome in the comments Dr. Susan Wicklund, author of This Common Secret: My Journey as an Abortion Doctor -- jh)

I consider this book a must-read for anyone who considers him or herself pro-choice. Well, and for anyone who considers himself “pro-life”---maybe it would help you wake up if you realized that the people you’re oppressing are actual human beings. In all the hubbub about abortion rights, what all too often gets lost are the stories of women and of doctors who serve them, which makes it that much easier for the anti-choice movement to dehumanize women and doctors and chip away at abortion rights. Dr. Wicklund corrects this problem, telling her own inspiring story about a single mother who put herself through medical school and then spent her career in what might be the most thankless branch of medicine. It’s a powerful argument for a life well spent doing good; through even her worst times, you get the impression that Dr. Wicklund has a strong center that comes to her from a life spent doing right.