Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy may have to make a decision between his job as a lawmaker and his membership — “his authentic membership” — in the Roman Catholic Church, Rhode Island’s Catholic bishop said Tuesday.

The Most Rev. Thomas J. Tobin made the comment during an interview with talk-show host Buddy Cianci on WPRO-AM.

“If he cannot abide by the teaching of this church, not just this one, but others and ... what it means to be a Catholic ... maybe he should find another fine Christian denomination where he can be more comfortable,” the bishop said.

He referred to it as the Chafee model, explaining that former U.S. Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee wasn’t comfortable with the Republican Party, so he left. Chafee is now contemplating a run for governor as an independent.

But the bishop said the best outcome would be for Kennedy to understand why this human life issue is so “very, very important to us, as it should be to him.”

JACK PERRY