Roman Catholic Bishop, the Most Rev. Blasé Cupich, in Rapid City, S.D. set the record straight. The Bishop refused to buckle under when Senator Leader Tom Daschle put his own non-Catholic "faith" on the line by supporting abortion in no uncertain terms.

Tuesday's election included a referendum on abortion. The Bishop spoke in an epistle to congregations last weekend.

He was disturbed by an Oct. 31 fundraising email from Senator Daschle. He championed the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League. Daschle’s missive was entitled, "Last Chance to Keep Pro-Choice Leadership in the Senate."

He, in eight paragraphs, urged recipients five times to respond with financial support for the pro-choice organization.

"Rarely has so much been at stake for a woman's right to choose in a U.S. Senate Election," Daschle wrote. "If you and thousands of other pro-choice Americans like you don't act today by giving to NARAL's Save the Senate Campaign, the U.S. Senate could fall into anti-choice hands on November 6th - the first day after the election."

The Bishop went on record as not cowering to a politician just because he, a religious leader, was just that—a religious figure.

Since Daschle, a Catholic in name, pushed the moral issue, the Bishop responded on moral grounds with his own convictions.

"It is clear that the senator has not only aligned himself with the strident position of NARAL, but he has also made abortion THE issue of this year's campaign," Cupich wrote. "The senator regrettably has crossed the line and I cannot let it go unanswered."

The Bishop underlined that, along with other issues such as education, rearing of children, "most importantly" protecting life in the womb was high on the list.

"Since Senator Daschle has now decided to frame this year's election uniquely as a referendum on abortion, he should know that there are citizens of good will in both parties who reject this extreme position and who cannot let it go unchallenged," the bishop continued.

Jay Henricks, congressional liaison with the Family Research Council, said Tuesday that Cupich's message is an "amazing response" to Daschle's pro-abortion fundraising.

"We applaud the bishop in his leadership to inform the conscience of the faithful," Henricks said. "We are encouraged that he so clearly responded to positions and actions that are clearly in opposition to the very mission of the church to uphold the dignity of life."

Although some may question Cupich's strong political statement, Henricks believes Daschle and other similar politicians opened the door.

"Because abortion, or other social issues, happen to also have a political angle to them does not then push the church out," Henricks declared. "They both have a place there, but the politicians cannot and should not push the mind and the voice of the church out of issues that have really come to define the fabric of our moral culture."

While he does not challenge Daschle's claim to the Catholic faith, Henricks said politicians who use their religion "as some sort of cover giving themselves legitimacy in the political venue" open themselves to criticism.

"When somebody calls themselves, for example, as Daschle calls himself Catholic and yet is so firmly opposed to most of what the church upholds," Henricks concluded, "I think one can legitimately question the integrity of their beliefs.