The bishops have concluded their intense debate on what they should do about politics and abortion and the new president and Catholics in public life and denying communion and...well, there was a lot to discuss, and not much consensus. And in the end the USCCB leader, Chicago Cardinal Francis George, tasked with saying everything and in the way everyone wanted, focused his 830-word statement largely on the prospect of President-elect Obama signing the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), should it pass Congress. Obama has said he would do so. CNS has the text here, and a story here.The statement has a few nice flourishes, but is really a blastaimedat a specific target. The target is a good one, even if it never sees the light of day. The statement is also smart as there seemed to be a recognition that any attempt to address the range of other issues that divided the hierarchy (and the flock) would simply spill out into more public divisions. Hence, nothing has been settled, but at least they have a big common enemy in FOCA, and that's often as useful as anything, at least in the short term.Of course, others are sure to run with the statement as they will, to little good for the church. Bill Donohue interpretsGeorge's statement as "Bishops warn Obama on abortion; Catholic Left rebuked." Bill says: "Cardinal George explicitly rejected the common good mantra of the Catholic Left that justifies legal abortion while pursuing ameliorative social policies that may reduce abortions."Cardinal George's latest remarks on that score seem far more nuanced than his personal pre-election motu proprio. The cardinal's quote: "We express again our great desire to work with all those who cherish the common good of our nation. The common good is not the sum total of individual desires and interests; it is achieved in the working out of a common life based upon good reason and good will for all."Sothe intramural battle will go on. Read the text and offer up exegesis, please.PS: Yes, they are meeting in Baltimore; I mistakenly said Washington in an earlier post, the result of years of habit. I haven't been to the meetings in Baltimore, but I like the fact that they moved it there, the mother see, and a deserving city in other ways.

David Gibson is the director of Fordham’s Center on Religion & Culture.

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