What do evangelical leaders Ralph Reed and Tony Perkins have in common with Roman Catholic Bishop Samuel Aquila — now bishop in Colorado, previously in Fargo?

Notwithstanding Donald Trump’s recent lewd, debasing sexual comments and behavior, all three of them endorse him for president.

To be sure, many evangelical congregations have condemned Trump and withdrawn support for him. But Aquila says you cannot vote for anyone who is not “pro-life,” i.e. opposed to abortion.

Non-Catholic faiths have an advantage that Catholics do not have. They can fire and/or replace their ministers and higher church authorities.

The Internal Revenue Service has rules and regulations regarding the requirements for tax-exempt status. I’m not getting into details of the long and complex code here, but I will say this: Unless the IRS is blind, it’s time for the federal agency to take on those religions and churches that actively engage in politics and endorse political candidates.

I’m focusing on Aquila because he represents a horrible double standard when it comes to “right to life” or “pro-life” positions.

Back in 2013, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Catholic Health Initiatives would not have to go to court again and would not have to pay damages in a 2006 lawsuit relating to the emergency room deaths of 31-year-old Lori Stodghill and her unborn twins.

Lori was seven months pregnant when she died of a heart attack in the emergency room at St. Thomas More Hospital in Canon City, an institution operated by Catholic Health Initiatives.

The hospital was acting under rules authored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops that mainly forbid non-natural birth control and abortions. When asked what to do as his wife lay dying, Jeremy Stodghill asked that their twin boys (still alive at that point) be delivered by Caesarian section.

The hospital refused to perform the procedure, based on the Conference of Bishops rules. Because the mother had already died, they allowed the twins to die also. The staff made no effort to save them.

Talk about hypocrisy! Just listen to the Catholic hospital’s courtroom defense of its (non)action and the twins’ subsequent deaths: “Colorado State Law encompasses only individuals when born alive. A fetus is not a person. …”

Think about that for a moment. The legal defense team for the hospital argued that the hospital couldn’t be held legally liable for the death of unborn people because unborn people aren’t protected by law in Colorado.

It’s obvious that the church took a pass here where a potential financial judgment was at stake. Once word reached the press, people were outraged at the hospital’s inaction and its justification. And guess who else joined in with that outrage? You guessed it … Colorado’s Bishop Aquila. He condemned the action but did not use his authority to stop the lawsuit and settle it. Nope, he stood by because there was a lot of money involved and let nature take its’ legal course.

This case was in court three years ago; I just googled it for an update. The Church allowed the case to go to trial. The Church allowed the case to be appealed, and it accepted the ruling that CHI was not liable for the babies’ deaths.

Now, if one looks at the Catholic Church’s stance on life, one would think that it would be the duty of its leadership to ignore the law, seek out the parent of the dead children and pay damages. I mean, they pay out damages for pedophiles in the church — why not murder when the hospital allowed 7-month-old fetuses — babies — to die!

Far be it from me to determine at what point life begins and when abortion should be prohibited except in special circumstances … but I have no difficulty in concluding a viable 7-month-old fetus is indeed a living human being.

Did they seek out the father to mitigate their concern for life? Hell, no. According to my research, they did not. It’s easier to be against abortion and for the right to life … unless it’s going to cost money!

The Catholic Church in general does some great work. But its great work allows a double standard, and that’s just plain wrong.

This same bishop and the religious leaders I named in my introduction now specifically tell their followers they cannot vote for anyone who supports abortion. No exceptions. They preach this from the pulpit and distribute voters guides and how-to information on absentee voting in the pews of their churches.

These unlawful and inappropriate actions have been reported to the IRS, yet no action has been taken. If organized religion cannot sell its product to its own people, it ought not be trying to impose religious beliefs on those who do not share them.

I expect to be accountable to my Creator. The Creator I know (and believe me, after a recent illness, I just about came one-on-one with him) would neither accept nor approve of the political doings of today’s religions. I seem to recall Jesus Christ throwing the bad guys out of the temple. Today, I think he’d feel his temple (the churches) needs some serious reform.

Take this to the bank: The Roman Catholic Church mandates a vote for Trump strictly because of the Clinton stance on abortion. Anyone watch Trump’s leaked videotapes last weekend? Did you watch him walking around behind Clinton on the debate Sunday, like the skulking pervert he is?

This is who they tell you to vote for — and this from a church that enjoys nonprofit tax status. This, from the church that is running short of cash because of pedophile activity.

I have many Catholic friends. (Maybe after today, I should say “had.”) The church needs reform, and my friends don’t need to be told yet again of all the good deeds it does. But focusing on its obvious hypocrisy is not a bad thing. It is a matter of being informed.

Before Sunday’s presidential debate, Trump paid each of five women claiming involvement with Bill Clinton $2,500 to appear on TV during his debate. He bought their presence and their claims. Prices of prostitution are indeed higher than I imagined.

Life should be preserved. Personal integrity should be maintained, and women should and must be respected. Perhaps if my Catholic Church allowed women to be priests and bishops, the hypocrisy would be reduced, and discussions about life would be carried out by those who carry and deliver that life.

Decisions about the health care of a woman must be between her and her physician. Her decisions on life are difficult. It’s time for men to stop passing laws they themselves are not subject to.

Finally, here’s a bit of conversation during Sunday’s debate:

“Tom, what would you do if you were Hillary Clinton and knew Donny Trump would be stalking you during the debate?”

Tom: “Would there be any limitations on my actions?”

“No.”

Tom: “Then I’d palm a Taser. And if he invaded my space like he’s doing hers, I’d attach it to his testicles with one well-aimed shot.” Amen.