At least one candidate got this one right:

I can't even understand why anyone would need this clarified in the first place. Well, nobody who is American by my definition. You know, those who actually understand and take to heart the first amendment, what it means, and what thought went into it.

To me the only relevance would be to see if someone gave the correct answer, which Romney gave. But I'm sure it's not the one more progressive types want to hear.

MR. MATTHEWS: Governor Romney, what do you say to Roman Catholic bishops who would deny communion to elected officials who support abortion rights?

MR. ROMNEY: I don't say anything to Roman Catholic bishops. They can do whatever the heck they want. (Laughter.) Roman Catholic bishops are in a private institution, a religion, and they can do whatever they want in a religion. America --

MR. MATTHEWS: Do you see that as interference in public life?

MR. ROMNEY: Well, I can't imagine a government telling a church who can have communion in their church. I can't -- we have a separation of church and state; it's served us well in this country.

My hunch is that there are a frightening number of people who call themselves American to whom the correct answer would be more along the lines of "I would slap those evil b*tches down!" and would see nothing inconsistent with the Constitution in that at all.

Incidentally, I didn't watch or listen to the debates (but play one on TV!) -- I think all of this campaigning started waaaay to early. My guy isn't even in the race yet. And that's a plus in his column!

This is the kind of rationalization progressives pride themselves in: A church enforcing its rules on a member (and membership is voluntary!) if that member happens to be a politician is interference in public life. (????) It's not like there's a right to communion in the Constitution, and there certainly isn't one in the Catholic Church. The politician could always say "well I don't agree with the church, therefore I won't take communion" thus at least following the rules (the church didn't kick him out, did it? It certainly has the right to) or -- if he really doesn't agree with the church he just might re-think his voluntary membership.

Imagine how it would go if the Church, hypothetically, supported abortion rights and refused to give communion to members who did not support abortion rights. How many progressives do you think would consider that interference in public life?

Either way, you believe what you believe, and the church has its rules. Take your pick. Groucho Marx aside, should you really be in a club that won't have you as a member? You are in a club because you believe certain things. If you don't believe those things, you're not really a member of that club, are you?