Doug Kmiec's Newfound Celebrity Status Among Those on the Left

(Hat tip: Brian Saint-Paul at InsideCatholic)

Seems "conservative Republican" Obama-supporting Catholic law professor Douglas Kmiec - like others who have bucked their fellow conservatives (see, e.g., "Maverick" McCain and Scotty McClellan) - is taking advantage of the 15-minutes of adulation and newfound celebrity status that he has garnered from those on the political left who otherwise hold his beliefs in contempt by going on NPR the other day to tout his Communion denial story. This latest effort to intimidate those who "use the Eucharist as a weapon" included Kmiec's assertion that such actions are "anti-community", whatever the heck that means.

Again, I want to emphasize that Kmiec was wrongfully denied Communion. But what's the point of his keeping the controversy front and center by making the rounds of all the left-wing news orgs in what's quickly becoming the "Douglas Kmiec '30 Pieces of Silver' Tour"?

I'll tell you what the point is (I addressed it on Tuesday): The purpose of Kmiec's media blitz and his adopting the left's intellectually lazy and emotion-laden terminology about "using Communion as a weapon" and Communion denial as being "anti-community" and "divisions exploited for political purposes" is to blur the lines by conflating this single instance of Kmiec wrongfully being denied Communion by an overzealous priest with the completely unrelated and entirely distinguishable actions that some Bishops have taken in exercising their episcopal authority in such matters as pro-abortion politicians presenting themselves for Communion (see, e.g., Cardinal Egan with regard to Mayor Giuliani, Archbishop Burke with regard to Sen. Kerry and with respect to instructing priests in his diocese when he was Bishop of LaCrosse to deny Communion to three Wisconsin politicians unless they publicly recanted their pro-abortion rights positions, and Archbishop Naumann with regard to Gov. Sebelius).

Blur the lines, stir up outrage, intimidate the Bishops, make abortion go away as an issue for Catholic voters in this year's election. That's what's going on here.


Previous Pro Ecclesia posts on this subject:
Doug Kmiec Soon To Be Sorely Disappointed

E.J. Dionne on Kmiec Being Denied Communion [UPDATED]

Deal Hudson on Prof. Kmiec and Blurring the Lines Between "Pro-Choice" and Pro-Abortion

And You Thought the Priest Who Denied Doug Kmiec Communion for Supporting Obama Was Hard Core ...

Did Doug Kmiec Just Now Catch On That Obama and NARAL Are Politically Conjoined? [UPDATED]

Deal Hudson on "How Obama's Catholics Will Dodge the Infanticide Question"

Kmiec's Dishonesty [UPDATED]

Catholic Teaching and Political Risk Taking: When Credit Isn't Given Where Credit is Due [UPDATED]

Kmiec's Wishful Thinking on Obama and AbortionThe Curt Jester: "Shameless Garment" [UPDATED]

So-Called "Catholic Reaganite" Doug Kmiec Endorses Obama [UPDATED]

"No'bama for Me, Thanks"Can a Catholic Vote for Obama?

Obama's Pledge to Planned Parenthood: “I Will Not Yield"

Deal Hudson: "Barack Obama's Catholic Problem"

"Why American Catholics are Supporting Barack Obama

Catholics at the Ballot Box

How the Catholic Left Will Tackle McCain

Why Does Kmiec Criticize McCain for Positions on Which He Gave Romney a Pass?

Deal Hudson on "Douglas Kmiec and the Lure of Obama"

Douglas W. Kmiec on "The Moral Duty to Inquire"

Professor Bainbridge: "Will Catholic Reaganites Go for Obama?"

Deal Hudson: "Preacher Man: Barack Obama and the the Gospel of Liberalism"

"Sorry, Doug Kmiec, But This Catholic Isn't Buying Obama"

Ramesh Ponnuru on Douglas Kmiec and "Catholic Reaganites for Obama" [UPDATED]

Romney Advisor Says Obama "a Natural for the Catholic Vote"

Obama "Post-Partisan"? Ask John Roberts

Obama and the "Pragmatic Center"