This may bother some priests itching to abuse the pulpit:

Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput [did] issue a new directive this week that clarifies what political activity is allowed by clergy and prohibiting them from endorsing or contributing money in partisan elections.

But they will have to suck it up for the sake of their role in society, which is not political.

Same goes for newsies, of course: They routinely claim neutrality.  Why?  So they can fulfil their role in society, which depends on their credibility.

I have the script right here for that and am reading carefully.

It’s not a problem in Denver, where only one donor said he’s a Denver cleric, a deacon.

But nationwide, about 100 Catholic priests and deacons have contributed nearly $100,000 to federal candidates or political parties in the 2007-08 election cycle, according to a Coloradoan review of FEC records.

Most of the contributions are to Republican groups or candidates, particularly outspoken opponents of abortion. However, the largest single recipient of Catholic clerical money is presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, a supporter of abortion rights.

Suckers for populist rhetoric?  Mad about the war?  This latter is my guess.  Pound for pound, there’s more pacifism among mainstream religious professionals, is my educated guess. 

However, issues are not out of bounds:

While restricted in partisan political activity, clergy have an obligation to speak out on important moral issues such as abortion or immigration, [archdiocesan spokeswoman Jeanette] DeMelo said.

“The church’s role in the public square is to help Catholics understand the teaching of their church regarding moral issues and encourage them to make informed decisions in light of those moral principles,” she said.

So pro-life and [pro?-] immigration preaching OK:

“Political campaigns prohibited would be those that are strictly partisan; in other words, the priests or deacons cannot support political parties or candidates in a public way. Right-to-life or immigration initiatives are not strictly partisan — in fact, we encourage that they not be partisan,” she said.

I insert “pro-“ before immigration because priests have been quite prominent on marches, etc.

However, very few preachers have gone whole hog as Fr. Michael Pfleger did in l’affaire Hillary at Obama’s former church, Trinity UCC.  They don’t name names but make their points in other ways, as I pointed out a few years back in a Wednesday Journal column, “If you’re Irish and you’re Catholic… [you’re a Dem].”