Basically, you’re missing that it is the Catholic League saying who is and who isn’t Catholic and that said Catholic League is composed mainly of rabid, insane people.
Neither the Pope nor the Bishops Conference has declared that pro-choice folks or lawyers processing divorces have ceased to be Catholic. In fact, I could declare myself an atheist and the Church would still consider me a Catholic, just a wayward one. That’s why pedophile preists can still call themselves Catholic. And pro-choice candidates. And whatever. Remember…the Catholic League is insane. Take whatever they say with a grain of salt and remember they have about as much influence in determing Church policy as hh does.
As far as I know, Corpus Christi is the only American diocese that has disallowed pro-choice Catholic candidates from speaking at churches.
What “agree-to-disagree” concept? The RCC believes abortion is evil. Good for them. I disagree. Good for me. The RCC has never agreed to disagree with me, and I’ve never agreed to disagree with them on the issue.
As for your last clause, it’s absurd. David Duke was a major political candidate a few years back in the La. Governor’s election. Would you be bitching had the New Orleans bishop refused to let him speak in an RCC facility?
Again, what middle ground? The RCC’s position on abortion has never had a middle ground.
A more apt comparison would be to say that the Catholic League represents the views of Catholics in about the same way that the American League represents the views of Americans.
“Require” implies the ability to cause something to happen.