Conservative Catholic Commentator Tells the Pope to Get in Line

George Weigel, the papal biographer, conservative Catholic commentator and prolific man of the pen, thinks it "would be helpful" for the Vatican to "underscore" two points of particular political interest.

1) That "deliberate legislative facilitation of abortion is a grave evil that puts one outside the communion of the Church and thus renders the reception of Holy Communion a dishonest act."

2) "When local bishops choose to forbid obstinate politicians from receiving Holy Communion for this reason, they will receive the full support of the Holy See."

It may be hard to imagine the Vatican would actually manifest such blanket provisions. As several U.S. bishops have noted, in explaining their reluctance to bar any Catholic from receiving Communion, it's difficult to see into someone's soul, even if they are a public figure.

Stay tuned for more episodes of "Wafer Watch: Part Deux."