Pro-abortion Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is expected to announce the formation of a Catholic Advisory Council today that he will likely use to try to make inroads among pro-life Catholic voters.

However, whether Obama’s position in favor of unlimited abortions funded with taxpayer dollars goes over with Catholic voters is another question.

Senator Bob Casey and former Congressman Tim Roemer will participate in the Friday afternoon conference call to announce the formation of the advisory group.

The participation and leadership of the two pro-life politicians is an obvious clue that Obama wants to siphon some of the pro-life Catholic vote away from eventual Republican nominee John McCain.

“Obama has two high profile pro-lifers in prominent roles on this Council,” CBN News correspondent David Brody observes.

“[They] have taken flack from the Democratic Party in the past because they are not pro-choice. The Obama campaign is clearly trying to send a message,” he explains. “They want Catholics and evangelicals to know that while Obama may be pro-choice, the pro-life point of view is not going to be so easily discounted.”

The timing of the announcement of the Catholic advisory group comes just before a weekend debate at Messiah College in Pennsylvania featuring Obama and Hillary Clinton that will focus on faith issues.

For his part, John McCain has already received the endorsement of pro-life Catholic stalwarts and has his own Catholic outreach group

Lee ADDS: So very much doplicity from Obama! I hope everyone sees through his ’smoke screen.’