Colorado Catholics divided over abortion

DENVER, May 19 (UPI) -- A rich, pro-choice donor to a Colorado Springs Catholic church is taking on his bishop over his decision to withhold Mass from abortion rights advocates.

Bishop Michael Sheridan has been clamping down on Catholics who support abortion rights by denying them Communion, also known among the laity as the Eucharist or mass, the Denver Post reported Wednesday.

But now, in a blistering letter to Sheridan, wealthy lawyer Ric Kethcart threatens to revoke a $100,000 pledge to his parish's building project and is enlisting others to take similar steps.

"We don't penalize people for standing back and letting other people seriously make their own judgments on moral issues as long as they properly consider all elements," said Kethcart, a longtime supporter of Colorado Democrats.

A spokesman for the bishop has responded the church is not willing to sacrifice money for morality. He noted many Catholics in the 10-county south-central Colorado diocese who support Sheridan's leadership have increased their giving.