I'm continually fascinated by the variety of angles on religion and politics stories. Based on coverage of the Catholic church's "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship" voter guide, one could hardly be blamed for thinking the bishops released two or three documents simultaneously. (Note: Terry Mattingly at getreligion.org posted a great analysis of the AP story and some manipulation of it, so I'll leave that alone.)

Depending on what you read, the bishops just issued a) a broader Catholic voters' agenda, or b) a reinforcement of the ascendancy of abortion, stem cells and euthanasia, or c) political wiggle room on abortion, or d) a warning that voting pro-choice is evil, or e) clear directions to hell. Most stories I read provided a thorough account if you read all the way through, but emphases varied greatly, and emphases matter a great deal. I don't have the exact figure on hand, but I recall from journalism school that far fewer than half of readers get all the way through stories.

Dig these headlines and leads for a sense of the range of descriptions readers across America found in their morning papers, and ask yourself if the whole country got the same declaration:

The LA Times -
Bishops issue guidelines for Catholic voters
Catholic voters who back candidates because of their support for abortion or other "assaults on human life" would be "guilty of formal cooperation in grave evil," according to a statement adopted Wednesday by U.S. Catholic bishops.

The St. Louis Post Dispatch -
Bishops take stand on voting, conscience
Six weeks before the first presidential primaries, the nation's Catholic bishops voted almost unanimously Wednesday to adopt a 40-page statement on voting and conscience. The document states more clearly than ever before that Catholics should weigh abortion, embryonic stem cell research and euthanasia more heavily than other issues such as war and poverty when they enter the voting booth.

The New York Times -
Catholic Bishops Offer Voting Guide, Allowing Some Flexibility on Issue of Abortion
The nation’s Roman Catholic bishops approved principles Wednesday intended to guide Catholics in choosing whom to vote for but leaving the door open for them to back candidates who support abortion rights.

The Chicago Tribune -
Catholic bishops say voters' souls at stake
Proclaiming a sense of new energy and empowerment, the nation's Roman Catholic bishops on Wednesday issued instructions to Catholic voters that their eternal salvation could be at stake when they cast ballots.

The Baltimore Sun -
Catholic bishops amend, approve 2008 voters guide
Roman Catholic bishops gathered in Baltimore approved a voters guide yesterday for the coming elections - repeating their long-standing opposition to abortion but this year adding torture and genocide to the matters that should be considered.