Knowing about that particular bishop, I'm sure they did not talk to him first, but there is no way that he could not have known the position of the Church on abortion and the fact that he was PUBLICLY opposing it.
The public nature of his action is what makes all of this different, and in fact what makes the situation of politicians different. They are publicly advocating, from a position of leadership, for something that is opposed to the teaching of the Church. And they know it perfectly well.
Maybe if more of them were called on it publicly, they might think twice.
True, true.