On abortion, it’s not ‘conservative’ and ‘liberal’ Catholics, it’s ‘good’ and ‘bad’ Catholics

It is difficult to watch the liberal and far left cable news channels (CNN & MSNBC) try to grasp the "Catholic" angle on the GOP primary as it proceeds to New Hampshire.

What will "conservative" Catholics do in a tight race between the candidates in the field, they asked. Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum are both Catholics and Mitt Romney is Mormon. All three do not condone abortion. Which way will "conservative" Catholics break? And if there are "conservative" Catholics, what then of the "liberal" Catholics?

Here's the rub with that kind of cookie-cutter analysis. When it comes to abortion there is no such thing as a "conservative" or "liberal" Catholic or Mormon. There are only "good" or "bad" Catholics or Mormons.

Sanctity of life is non-negotiable in both expressions of the Christian faith.

As Pope Benedict XVI said last year: "The moral conscience is universal, not something that comes from external pressure or emotions, nor something unique to Christians and believers. Through moral conscience God speaks to each of us, inviting us to defend human life at all times, and in this personal bond with the Creator lies the profound dignity of moral conscience and the reason for its inviolability."

He added: “It is necessary that society as a whole must defend the conceived child’s right to life and the true good of the woman who can never, in any circumstances, find fulfillment in the decision to abort.”

The LDS Church is on a similar page. In fact, this is the apropos page from the church's website: "Human life is a sacred gift from God. Elective abortion for personal or social convenience is contrary to the will and the commandments of God. Church members who submit to, perform, encourage, pay for, or arrange for such abortions may lose their membership in the Church." (Paging Sen. Harry Reid, you have some explaining to do.)

Look, I feel no need to get any further into specifics about public officials and their conscience or lack thereof. My point is to the media. You just don't get the nuance abortion plays for American Catholics and Mormons. The voting booth is sacred, of course. People can pull whatever lever they wish. But on abortion there is zero room to rationalize. If you facilitate abortion you in the eyes of the church are considered a "bad" Catholic or a "bad" Mormon, no matter whether you call yourself politically conservative or liberal.

Analyze the lay of that land before you start flipping around questions about how New Hampshire Catholics will vote. It ain't that simple.