by Tom Deignan 

THE Republican Party is making an intense push for Catholic voters in New York and across the country. Since Irish Americans make up a large chunk of the always controversial “Catholic vote,” it’s clear the GOP thinks the Irish vote is critical to winning the White House.

This new development even includes a direct appeal to Catholic voters from Republican national chairman Ed Gillespie, whose parents were Irish immigrants.

The question becomes whether or not Republicans have launched a divisive religious war, or are simply pitching their message to a crucial block of swing voters. Also being raised is the rift between conservative and more moderate Catholics.

Perhaps it’s not a surprise, then, that this week both John Kerry and President George W. Bush failed to receive invites to the famed October 21 Al Smith dinner in Manhattan. Officials felt the presence of both might be “divisive.”

The latest move to woo the Catholic vote is a direct attack on Democratic candidate Kerry. Recently, a new web site was launched called Kerry Wrong for Catholics (www.kerrywrongforcatholics.com).

The site is an appeal to Catholics to vote for Bush — or, at least, not for Kerry — based on his voting record when it comes to abortion, marriage and other hot button issues.

There is, of course, irony to Republicans targeting Irish Catholic voters. There is, first of all, the historic Irish link to the Democratic Party. That began to break down in 1972 with the election of Richard Nixon, and particularly in 1980 when Ronald Reagan was elected president.

The new twist, though, is that Kerry is a practicing Catholic — one with an Irish name, no less. (Kerry, however, is not Irish himself. An ancestor from Poland changed the family name upon immigration. The name was based on Co. Kerry in Ireland, however.)

Either way, an interesting question here is who exactly has launched this latest volley in the religious-political war.

One might assume President Bush and his advisers are behind it. Or perhaps a devout Catholic supporter of Bush.

But that’s where it gets tricky. All the way at the bottom of the Kerry Wrong for Catholics site is a disclaimer which reads “Paid for by the Republican National Committee. Not Authorized By Any Candidate Or Candidate Committee.”

Okay. But the site does include a number of links, one directly to the official Republican website, and another to GeorgeWBush.com.

But perhaps the more interesting thing here is a link which takes you to a site which advises you how to “Become a Catholic Team Leader.” 

“President Bush had significant success in winning Catholic support in 2000, and Republicans across America were able to build on that success in 2002,” reads the introduction, written and signed by RNC chairman Ed Gillespie.

“The Republican trend among Catholics was reflected even more strongly among church-going Catholics. Catholics across America have responded to President Bush’s leadership and his efforts to build a more compassionate America and ensure that human life is protected. “The Republican National Committee’s Catholic Team Leader Outreach aims to build on these historic successes, and is working with the Catholic community to ensure that priorities important to Catholics become a reality, including the President’s faith-based initiative and his efforts to build a more compassionate America by helping people in need through continued job creation.” 

Perhaps never before has the Catholic vote been so crucial in an election. The question now becomes when a Catholic’s faith becomes a political football. Time will tell.