On Jan. 8, 1962, President John F. Kennedy wrote a letter celebrating the work of James Cardinal Gibbons, who died in 1921. Kennedy, who rarely discussed his Catholicism, did so while describing Gibbons: “He nobly expresses the essential traditions of my church in the United States ... the deep sympathy for the plight of the working man and of minorities, the steady concern for the betterment of society and mankind.”

Thus, it was somewhat startling to see JFK’s daughter, Caroline Kennedy, invoke her father’s name and describe herself as a “Catholic woman” while espousing a passionate defense of abortion rights at the Democratic National Convention. President Kennedy never publicly commented on abortion, and indeed, his brother Teddy was ardently anti-abortion when he began his political career. Of course, that changed over time as Sen. Kennedy evolved into a liberal lion and enthusiastically entered the abortion rights den.

Caroline Kennedy has to know the Catholic Church condemns abortion. It is a mortal sin in the eyes of the institution. There is no debate on that. So for Caroline Kennedy to describe herself as a Catholic woman in the context of promoting “reproductive rights” is a direct insult to her religion. Why would she do that? Other Catholic politicians such as Mario Cuomo say they don’t personally believe in abortion but respect the legal process that allows it. Not so with Caroline Kennedy. She openly told the world she is an abortion crusader; the stated belief of her church be damned.