An ex-communication MUST come directly from the Vatican. They have something called 'the office of the faith' which deals with such matters. The person pushing these claims purposefully mislead the press towards his relationship with the Vatican, in order to claim authority. Kerry was never ex-communicated and retains full standing as a catholic. Anybody saying otherwise is promoting slander and libel.
http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2004d/102904/102904k.htm
http://www.cathnews.com/news/410/100.php
I find the fact that people push this story extremely deplorable, as they are slandering a person's faith in order to achieve their political goals. On the other hand, Bush is also pumping up and marketing his own faith. A Christian person does not crow about his faith, but is humble. His faith is displayed through acts, not words.
Which is why I find Bush's acts in the manner of the death penalty rather revealing. Punishing the guilty is well and good. But the death penalty takes this punishment to a step beyond where their is the possibility of appeal or room for mistakes. Thus good christianity, and good government DEMANDS that this punishment be applied fairly and humanely along with a measure of humility, regret, and mercy.
Thus when Bush MOCKED a born-again christian woman on death row, I was thunderstruck.(interview with Talk magazine in 1999 entitled 'devil may care'.. mag is defunct, but you can read a transcript
here.)
This is not a christian act. This is not respect for life. No matter what others say about his faith, I excommunicated Bush in my mind for that one statement. He has none when he can provide none in his acts.
No matter what he SAYS about abortion and respect for life, he has aptly demonstrated his lack of respect already.