A South Carolina Catholic priest has altered his relationship with parishioners for an issue other than religion: politics.

According to a Nov. 13 Associated Press article, Rev. Jay Scott Newman sent a letter to parishioners at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Greenville, S.C. stating their souls were on the line if they take part in the Eucharist before doing penance for voting for president-elect Barack Obama.

The priest cited Obama’s support of abortion rights as the reason parishioners should not vote for him.

In the past, the Catholic Church has discouraged the practice of “cafeteria Catholicism” -- parishioners who choose what they want to believe rather than in accordance with the Church’s beliefs.

Approximately 54 percent of Catholics voted for Obama, however, according to the national exit polls by Edison Media Research/Mitofsky International.

Shortly after Obama was elected, Pope Benedict XVI firmly stated the Church’s beliefs and expressed concern over Obama’s support of abortion, specifically the Freedom of Choice Act that is currently waiting to be reviewed by Congress.

“I find the situation to be somewhat extreme,” said junior Melinda Hagaman, a Catholic and pre-physical therapy and psychology double major. “The priest should have taken into account that not everyone who voted for Obama was doing so for the abortion aspect. I am glad the Church is strong and stern with its beliefs, but whatever happened to the separation of Church and State?”

She said she voted for Obama, but not because of his stance on abortion.

Hagaman supports Obama because of his stance on the economy, health care and the war.

Although I’m Protestant, I attended a Catholic high school for four years and have been dating a Catholic for the past two years. Half of my family is Catholic. I understand the general attitude of Catholicism. One thing I’ve learned is that you do not debate the topic of abortion. There is no leeway. Period.

Praise goes to the Catholic Church for sticking to their guns and not caving to pressure of those who support abortion rights. Despite outcries of not keeping with the times, the Church firmly remains against abortion and any form of it. As a favorite saying of mine goes: if you’re too open-minded, your brain will fall out.

The way one priest stated his views won’t change people’s attitudes toward the touchy topic of whether to be pro-choice or pro-life.

Educating people about why the Church is against abortion rather than telling parishioners they should or should not vote for a certain candidate is the best option.

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