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Posted on 01/16/2003 6:48:56 AM PST by Petronski
Vatican Calls Catholic Politicians Into Line Thu January 16, 2003 09:18 AM ET
By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican told Catholic politicians on Thursday they must oppose laws on abortion, euthanasia and gay marriages and can not accept compromises on Church teachings when formulating policy or legislation.
The instructions were contained in new guidelines, which the Vatican said it was publishing now because recent "unsettling" scientific advances, such as embryo research, and social changes had made it necessary to clarify the Church's position again.
The document, called "Doctrinal Note on Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life," also turned the screws on Catholic publications, saying they could not put forward different views for the sake of pluralism.
The guidelines, which reaffirm traditional Church teachings, said Catholic politicians had to be reminded of them because of confusion that developed over Catholic doctrine.
The 17-page document said Catholics in political life "cannot compromise" in the name of tolerance, pluralism or freedom of choice when making or supporting legislation.
"Democracy must be based on the true and solid foundation of non-negotiable ethical principles, which are the underpinning of life in society," said the document by the Vatican's doctrinal department, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
"Those who are directly involved in lawmaking bodies have a grave and clear obligation to oppose any law that attacks human life. For them, as for every Catholic, it is impossible to promote such laws or to vote for them," it said.
NO RECOGNITION FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
The document, specifically approved by Pope John Paul, called for laws protecting the family, which it said had to be "based on monogamous marriage between a man and a woman, and protected in its unity and stability...
"In no way can other forms of cohabitation be placed on the same level as marriage, nor can they receive legal recognition as such," it added.
The Vatican is firmly opposed to recent moves aimed at legally recognizing same-sex marriages in several European countries and in North America.
The Netherlands has recognized registered gay partnerships since 1998 and it passed laws allowing same-sex couples to marry and adopt children in December 2000.
Several other European countries have given gays rights just short of those enjoyed by heterosexual married couples.
Asserting that fundamental moral laws were at stake, the document restated the Church's opposition to abortion and euthanasia and urged respect for the rights of the human embryo.
In an apparent reference to the dangers of cloning -- which the Church rejects along with stem-cell embryo research -- the document warned of potential laws that are "heedless of the consequences for the existence and future of human beings (and) attack the very inviolability of human life."
It also criticized Catholic organizations and publications in some countries for taking "ambiguous or incorrect" stands. Such bodies could not support political forces or movements with positions contrary to the teaching of the Church on ethical questions, the document said.
The Vatican issued a new set of guidelines for Catholic politicians Thursday, reminding them to heed the church's "nonnegotiable" teachings on abortion, euthanasia, same-sex marriage and other issues when making public policy.
But I couldn't find a fully-quotable AP source for the story.
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Even that might not get their attention, but a few new "guidelines" in an obscure document surely won't do the trick.
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