WASHINGTON—The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops announced they will begin evaluating whether they can sanction Catholic elected officials who vote contrary to church teachings.

The Boston Globe reported that some bishops suggested the church should consider punishments ranging from withholding honorary degrees, refusing to allow recalcitrant politicians to speak at Catholic institutions, or even excommunicating them.

"I am tired of hearing Catholic politicians say, ‘I am personally opposed to whatever, but I can't impose my moral judgment on others,'" said Bishop Joseph A. Galante of Dallas. "That's nonsense. They do it on other issues. … That's a weaseling out."

In January, Pope John Paul II issued a document outlining the responsibilities of Catholics actively involved in politics. Prompted by that, Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, archbishop of Washington, suggested that bishops examine how they should deal with Catholic politicians who do not heed the Vatican's urgings.

No names were mentioned, but some Catholics lament the support for abortion rights voiced by Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry, both Catholics, the newspaper reported.

Both cited church-state separation as their guiding principle after the pope's statement was issued.

"As a Catholic, I have enormous respect for the words and teachings of the Vatican," Kerry said, "but as a public servant, I've never forgotten the lasting legacy of President (John) Kennedy, who made clear that in accordance with the separation of church and state, no elected official should be ‘limited or conditioned by any religious oath, ritual, or obligation.'"

The discussion about Catholic politicians came at the annual fall meeting of the bishops' conference.