TRENTON, N.J. - New Jersey's State Senate Majority leader has decided to leave the Roman Catholic church after 57 years, citing church demands that politicians vote in accordance with Catholic doctrine.

Sen. Bernard Kenny, D-Hudson, told his pastor Saturday that would no longer be a member of the church.

"If every faith starts trying to impose their rules on elected officials, democracy is going to be factionalized along religious lines," Kenny told The Philadelphia Inquirer for Sunday's editions.

Kenny, who supports abortion rights and stem-cell research, said his church leaders told him he would be offered Communion one more time, "but that then he would tell me not to come again."

A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Newark declined to comment on Kenny's decision.

"I will look for other options to express my faith and will probably join another Christian church," Kenny told The Inquirer.

U.S. Rep. William Pascrell Jr., also a Catholic Democrat, agrees that politicians have an obligation to represent all their constituents.

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-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45-nospam@hotmail.com), May 10, 2004

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-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45-nospam@hotmail.com), May 10, 2004.

So does this mean that if some of their constiuents are pro-slavery and pro-child molestation, they should agree? How many times have pro- abortion congressmen voted PRO-LIFE to honor the beliefs of their pro- life constituents (who voted against them)?

That excuse is stupid.

-- Joe (joestong@yahoo.com), May 10, 2004.