"I fully intend to practice my religion as separate from what I do with respect to my public life."

With respect, as you seem to mean it, that is to not practice your religion at all. It's one thing to recognize your public duties may conflict with your faith and do your duty. It's another thing to adopt a practice inconsistent with your belief and push it as a public duty.

"Can George W. Bush say the same? I don't think so."

Probably right, Don. But that's a positive statement for most of us.

Regardless, Kerry's issue with the Church shouldn't be an issue unless you feel strongly as a Catholic in which case you probably weren't going to vote for Kerry anyway.