Liberal Catholics defend Obama's nomination of Kathleen Sebelius

The National Catholic Reporter runs an article boasting that a group of 26 Catholic leaders, scholars and theologians Mar. 1 publicly expressed support for the nomination of Governor Sebelius as the next HHS secretary. The text of the statement, released by Catholics United, criticizes "conservative Catholics" "who would use Gov. Sebelius’ faith to attack her. As Catholics, we find such partisan use of our religion regrettable and divisive."

One wonders whether their criticism would extend to Sebelius' own Bishop, who has admonished her to refrain from communion

"until she had acknowledged the error of her past positions, made a worthy sacramental confession and taken the necessary steps for amendment of her life which would include a public repudiation of her previous efforts and actions in support of laws and policies sanctioning abortion"?

Not suprisingly, among the signees are such familiar names as Christopher Korzen (Executive director of Catholics United); Fr. Thomas Reese (former editor of the Jesuit perodical America); and ... fervent apologist for all things Obama, Doug Kmiec.

Carl Olson provides details on the signees, including Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley Bagley, Professor Lisa Sowle Cahill, and Kari J. Lundgren.