I fully agree with the Bishop Chaput’s stand here—and the Roman Church’s position on life in general. Particularly with the scientific knowledge we have today, no Christian can claim the name and not be fully pro-life.
Though not a part of the Church of Rome, and well aware of the “latia sentia” practice (of silent, private, implied excommunication), for the life of me, I don’t know why the Roman Church does not have formal public excommunication procedures for public figures such as Polosi—a big part of whose political appeal is no doubt that they claim to be Roman Catholic.
There should be no doubt at all to EVERYONE that she is NOT an “an ardent, practicing Catholic” and PUBLIC excommunication alone would make that clear.
Putting a few of these folks “under the ban” would do a lot to tell average Roman Catholic laity—and the world at large—that no, these folk are not Roman Catholic, and yes, they are apostate.
Because our Lord came for the sinners. What good is accomplished by tossing them out of the Church. The proper and most Christ like approach is to correct them - first in private then, if necessary, publicly. The bishop is following in the footsteps of Christ, the Shepherd.