WASHINGTON - For weeks, Cardinal Bernard F. Law prepared for a private session
that he had requested with George W. Bush. But when, without public notice, the two met last week in San Diego, the archbishop of Boston raised the issue of abortion only briefly.
Instead, according to two others who sat in on the meeting, Law used most of his 90 minutes with Bush to urge him to take the bold step of supporting universal health care coverage. That policy goal is more popular with liberal Democrats than with conservative Republicans, and it is more sweeping and costly than the plan proposed by Al Gore.
As Bush nears a decision on a vice presidential candidate, he is considering the importance of the Roman Catholic vote and the church's antiabortion view. Governor Thomas Ridge of Pennsylvania, an early favorite for the vice presidency, is under attack by some Republicans because he is a Catholic who favors abortion rights.
As a result, some Bush associates who once backed Ridge are now looking at prospects such as Governor Frank Keating of Oklahoma, who is also Catholic and who opposes abortion.
But as Law's session with Bush seemed to show, the idea that Catholics are focused solely, or even mostly, on abortion may be simplistic. No one doubts Law's fervent opposition to abortion, a stance in accord with the teachings of his church. But less noticed is the Catholic hierarchy's support for expanded health care and antipoverty programs. In addition, the church opposes the death penalty, which Bush favors.
''Catholics are a complicated question,'' said James Guth, a professor of political science at Furman University, in Greenville, S.C. ''They differ on a lot of things, and the one issue that binds them is anti-Catholicism.''
Bush stirred sensitivities to anti-Catholicism last February when he spoke at Bob Jones University, also in Greenville, whose leaders had referred to Catholicism as a cult. Since that appearance, Bush has been trying to make amends with Catholic voters, assuring them that he has no bias and that he is seriously considering a Catholic running mate.
It is clear that religious affiliation is a concern for the Texas governor. Catholics make up about 25 percent to 30 percent of the electorate, and a sizable number of those are considered swing voters. Catholics are especially numerous in the upper Midwest, where the Bush campaign believes the election will be decided.
Bush is under pressure regarding the abortion issue. Some Catholic leaders told his campaign recently they would be offended if Bush picked Ridge, a Bush associate said on condition of anonymity.
''They basically said, `Don't stick a finger in the eye of the Catholic Church. If you want to put a prochoice running mate on your ticket, pick someone from another religion. Don't embarrass us,''' said the Bush associate, who now thinks Keating would be a good choice because the Oklahoma governor, like Bush, opposes abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is endangered.
Roman Catholics used to be considered reliable Democrats. John F. Kennedy captured about 80 percent of the Catholic vote in 1960, according to Guth said. In 1996, the Clinton-Gore ticket won about 54 percent of the Catholic vote, which played a key role in the election outcome, Guth said. Polls show that Bush and Gore would roughly split the Catholic vote.
''Catholics usually end up on the winning side,'' Guth said, adding that Catholics are just as split on the abortion issue as is the general public.
Raymond L. Flynn, the former Boston mayor and former US ambassador to the Vatican, said both the Democratic and Republican parties are ''out of touch'' with Catholics.
''Abortion is one issue, certainly an important one,'' said Flynn, president of Catholic Alliance, which encourages voter participation and which Flynn said has 15,000 members. ''But there are other issues, social and economic justice, that are the cornerstone of the Catholic faith. The media focus on abortion.''
Flynn said the candidates should court his brand of Catholicism: ''pro-life, pro-family, and pro-poor.''
Law's meeting with Bush reportedly echoed that theme, and the cardinal was specific about the need for the Republican Party to embrace universal health coverage. Law has requested a meeting with Gore, but the cardinal's associates said no session has been scheduled.
Law, on a retreat, could not respond to interview requests, according to his office.
Law met with Bush on July 5 at the San Diego Marriott, weeks after requesting an encounter. Two other participants, officials of the Catholic Health Association, provided an account of the five-person session. The fifth person was one of the cardinal's aides. Bush brought no one from his campaign.
Law and the Catholic health officials began by telling Bush the effort by Congress to balance the budget has been too harsh, leading to a $100 billion, five-year reduction in federal assistance to hospitals, many run by Catholic organizations. The Catholic leaders then presented Bush with a written proposal that calls for providing basic health insurance to 45 million uninsured Americans, at an estimated cost of $1,800 to $2,000 per person.
Bush has proposed a variety of federal tax credits and other programs to help pay for health insurance. Gore has proposed providing health insurance to all children, and says his goal is universal coverage. The proposal from Law for universal coverage is most similar to the plan offered by Bill Bradley during the Democratic primary campaign.
Bush did not make a commitment to Law, according to one of the participants, Dr. Michael F. Collins, president of the Caritas Christi Health Care System of Boston and vice chairman of the Catholic Health Association of the United States.
Collins said Law did not mention the vice-presidential selection and made only a brief comment about abortion.
''The cardinal made a statement during the meeting that he felt a commitment to a just health care system was a pro-life message,'' Collins said. ''That was the only reference.''
The Rev. Michael D. Place, president of the Catholic Health Association and another participant at the meeting, stressed that they were not playing down abortion, but rather that they were trying to expand the meaning of ''pro-life'' to include health care for everyone.
''It is fair to say he shares our concerns'' about health coverage, Place said of Bush. ''He did not go on to agree with our strategies.''
The proposal Law and the others handed Bush could be viewed as tying the antiabortion position and universal health care together. ''Human life is sacred and each person has inherent dignity,'' the document said. ''There is a human right to basic and compassionate quality health care, regardless of age, income, illness, or condition of life, and a morally responsible society has an obligation to provide it.''
Keith Fournier, a cofounder of the Catholic Alliance, said the proposal for universal coverage is an emerging focus of Catholic leaders.
''Of course we oppose abortion,'' Fournier said. ''It is a barometer issue. But there are many more issues. How we do we treat people across their lives? There is concern for the poor. Either party is mistaken if they think they can just get the Catholic vote by pandering.''
