Is Rudy his own man?

In response to the Pope saying that politicians that support women's rights to abortions can't take communion, Rudy said such things are between he and his confessor.

Talking head commentators are interpreting that to mean that Rudy is saying that he's his own man and he doesn't answer to the Pope.

But that's not what he's saying at all. He's Catholic, and when he says it's between him and his confessor that doesn't mean the same thing as when a Methodist says it. Rudy is specifically saying he does answer to the Catholic Church, just to the Preist he confesses to rather than the Pope himself.