The First Amendment doesn't apply to the Catholic Church?

Catholic League

Forty-eight Democratic congressmen have signed a letter to Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington, D.C., taking issue with those bishops who have said that Catholic lawmakers should be denied Communion if they champion abortion rights.

Catholic League president William Donohue weighed in today:

"The Democratic congressmen who signed the letter, almost all of whom are pro-abortion, are admonishing the nation’s bishops not to ‘revive latent anti-Catholic prejudice’ by threatening to deny them Communion. This is a classic example of ‘blaming the victim."

Funny, I don't remember any law or rule saying a person HAS to be Catholic. If a person CHOOSES to be Catholic, then they agree to follow the rules of the Catholic Church. If they cannot or do not want to follow those rules, then they are not a Catholic even if they call them selves one. Being Catholic is NOT like being Jewish. Being a Catholic is a religious choice. Being Jewish is both a religious and a cultural choice as the Jews are a distinct people group.

Why are these politicians afraid to say they are not Catholic? It can't be for political reasons can it?? Personally I'm glad to see the Catholic Church exercise Church discipline and would hope if these so called Catholic's do not submit, they are ex-communicated from the Catholic Church. They, and everyone else who calls themselves a Catholic or Christian needs to understand belonging to a Church is not a right in this country and the teachings of the Church need to be followed or there will be consequences. After all, people are free to leave the Church and some churches could fold if everyone leaves. But is it better to remain true to ones principles or to be popular (both as individuals and as organizations).