Thank you for your comment.  I fully agree.  I just don't think the bishops are the ones to represent Catholicism to politicians since the majority of Catholics are not represented by the bishops on issues such as contraceptives, abortion, gay marriage.  Turning to them gives an illusion that they represent Catholics in the politics of this country - and they certainly do not.

And "dialogue?"  Bishops don't know how!  They absolutely have too little experience in true dialogue.  They don't know how to listen and they are not open to learning - to being changed by what they hear.  They can exhort their already held positions - but are not open to learning a different view.  

I don't want them even pretending to represent me, as a Catholic, to the political establishment.