National Catholic Register: "Why the Rudy Rejection Matters"

Paul Kengor writes in the February 24-March 1 issue of National Catholic Register:

With little fanfare, something politically, historically, and even morally significant quickly passed on Jan. 30, 2008, when New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani withdrew from the Republican presidential race.

Such is the superficiality of our media that within a span of minutes the news cycle had already shifted to the Republican crowning of John McCain, the political demise of Mitt Romney, and Mike Huckabee hanging on.

The reality is that the rejection of Rudy by Republicans should not be brushed off lightly and quickly; it merits pause for careful reflection, and perhaps even celebration.

Let there be no doubt that Rudy was refused because of outrage at how he proudly and unequivocally supports a “woman’s right to choose.” This was a Republican religious rejection of Rudy. He was rejected not only by evangelicals but by the pro-life Catholics who share his party and his faith.

Yet, it was also much more, especially for Republicans and for Catholics. Consider the big picture...

***
All of this now brings us to a historic crossroads: Thanks to pro-life diligence by certain Republicans, and particularly two decades of generally decent court appointments by Reagan and Bush (along with some obvious failures), Roe v. Wade has the chance of being reversed under the next president.

And that’s where denying Rudy Giuliani the 2008 Republican nomination and the presidency becomes so profoundly important: If Roe v. Wade is reversed, Catholics, and Catholics who are Republican, will be spared the shame of a Catholic Republican president unable to understand or make the moral case against abortion. They will be spared the spectacle of a Catholic Republican president voicing his “personal disagreement” with the decision.

[Read the whole thing]

(emphasis added)


UPDATE (20 February)
Regular Guy Paul offers his take on Rudy's continuing impact on the presidential race in "The Giuliani Effect".