Roman Catholicism is not just a religion anymore, but a political machine that takes a stance on many of the issues we vote on. Catholic leaders have come out against abortion, against women's rights, against birth control and in favor of anti-gay initiatives such as Proposition 22. These are political issues, issues which we must evaluate every time we cast our ballots. When a religious organization willingly steps into the political sphere, it is opening itself up to criticism. We all know how prevalent political satire is in American culture, and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are just a unique group of satirists.
Political participation is a double-edged sword.
You can't expect to reap the benefits of telling your followers to vote a certain way and be safe from criticism and satire at the same time. If we elevate religion to a level of untouchable sanctity, we will be limiting the rights of citizens to exercise their freedom of speech. Regardless of whether or not you agree with all of the current teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, you must admit that it has made mistakes. In the 20th century, Pope Pius XII complacently watched as the Holocaust, one of the most brutal crimes against humanity in history, took place. Recent research has provided documentation showing that he instructed German bishops, many of whom wanted to rally against Nazism, to remain silent.