Ratzinger is widely viewed as a conservative, hard-line Catholic theologian. He strongly opposes abortion, any increased role of women in the church, birth control and homosexuality–which he once described as a “intrinsic moral evil.” Since 1981 he has served as the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith — the body charged with upholding doctrinal purity in worldwide Catholicism. During last year’s presidential campaign here in the United States, Ratzinger suggested Catholic politicians who supported abortion rights should not be given communion or receive the votes of Catholics. Senator John Kerry, who is Catholic, was never mentioned by name but was the obvious target of Ratzinger’s remarks. At the same time Ratzinger has been credited with being a vocal critic of war and capital punishment. Two years ago he questioned if any war could still be considered a just war. The group Catholics Against Capital Punishment credited Ratzinger with playing an “instrumental” role in strengthening the Church’s opposition to capital punishment.