"Cafeteria" Catholic politicos

The recent papal visit and Mass in Washington, DC brought media attention to National and Local Catholic politicians, including Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, who would be attending the Mass and receiving communion despite previous requests from Pope Benedict himself that they should refrain from receiving.

To Catholics communion is more than a symbol, it is a reality of unity with Christ, the Catholic community/Church and its teachings. All Catholics share in the responsibility to receive Communion "worthily" understanding it is a gift, not a right. For Catholic political leaders, there is even a greater burden to allow Church teachings to "inform" their political views, as Governor O'Malley claims in this Baltimore Sun article. Its more than disingenuous to use your "faith" for political gain and popularity and then pick and choose (cafeteria style) the teachings you want to follow. You can't have it both ways.

Many Catholic politicians claimed to have a "clear conscience" and experienced "great sense of excitement" (AP story) over the pope's visit and Mass in Nationals Park. The problem is, the Church is not just about individuals consciences nor is the Mass an emotional event only. It is a community where my choices impact others and where my one must balance faith and reason.

Pope Benedict was quoted numerous times during his visit noting the lack of unity between daily life and faith and noted in his departure speech from New York's JFK airport that "Living religiously "means overcoming every separation between faith and life, and countering false gospels of freedom and happiness. It also means rejecting a false dichotomy between faith and public life". I'm not sure how much more directly the Pope could be in summarizing the serious and troubling problem of holding public policy views that are opposed to Church teaching while at the same time claiming to be "one" with the Church.