[Brandon]

Agreed, Kevin. It's all part of the Republican party's effort to turn itself into the party of "true believers." They're attempting to rally the faithful of every stripe under their banner by kicking the "family values" rheotric into hyperdrive while simulatenously painting the Democratic party as a bastion of secularism, America-hatred, and moral relativism. They probably figured they could easily manipulate Catholics using the hot-button issues like abortion and gay marriage:

"BET WE CAN GET THOSE BLOOD-DRINKING MARY WORSHIPPERS TO VOTE G.O.P. IF WE PLAY THE ABORTION CARD! HAR HAR HAR!"

It also bothers me that Catholicism is in danger of becoming politicized. The church, while lobbying our government at times, has always managed to maintain a respectable distance from the partisan fray - unlike certain fundamentalists Protestant sects, which have practically become branches of the Republican party.