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.
Never too late to make a comeback!
My prayers for the Catholics, their Pope and their Church.
| EWTNews |
16-Jan-2003 -- Vatican Information Service NOTE ON THE PARTICIPATION OF CATHOLICS IN POLITICAL LIFEVATICAN CITY, JAN 16, 2003 (VIS) - Made public today by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was a Doctrinal Note On Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life. It is addressed to the bishops of the Catholic Church and to all the lay faithful called to participate in the public and political life of democratic societies. The Note, dated November 24, 2002, Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe, is signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., respectively prefect and secretary of the dicastery. The text has been published in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German and Portuguese and consists of four chapters and a conclusion. Following are excerpts from the document: "I. A CONSTANT TEACHING. The commitment of Christians in the world has found a variety of expressions in the course of the past 2000 years. One such expression has been Christian involvement in political life. ... Among the saints, the Church venerates many men and women who served God through their generous commitment to politics and government. Among these, Saint Thomas More, who was proclaimed Patron of Statesmen and Politicians, gave witness by his martyrdom to 'the inalienable dignity of the human conscience'. ... He taught by his life and his death that 'man cannot be separated from God, nor politics from morality'. ... By fulfilling their civic duties, 'guided by a Christian conscience', in conformity with its values, the lay faithfully exercise their proper task of infusing the temporal order. ... The present Note does not seek to set out the entire teaching of the Church on this matter, which is summarized in its essentials in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, but intends only to recall some principles proper to the Christian conscience, which inspire the social and political involvement of Catholics in democratic societies." "II. CENTRAL POINTS IN THE CURRENT CULTURAL AND POLITICAL DEBATE. A kind of cultural relativism exists today, evident in the conceptualization and defense of an ethical pluralism, which sanctions the decadence and disintegration of reason and the principles of the natural moral law. Furthermore, it is not unusual to hear the opinion expressed in the public sphere that such ethical pluralism is the very condition for democracy." "Such relativism, of course, has nothing to do with the legitimate freedom of Catholic citizens to choose among the various political opinions that are compatible with faith and the natural moral law, and to select, according to their own criteria, what best corresponds to the needs of the common good. Political freedom is not ? and cannot be ? based upon the relativistic idea that all conceptions of the human person's good have the same value and truth. ... If Christians must 'recognize the legitimacy of differing points of view about the organization of worldly affairs', they are also called to reject, as injurious to democratic life, a conception of pluralism that reflects moral relativism. Democracy must be based on the true and solid foundation of non-negotiable ethical principles, which are the underpinning of life in society. ... The democratic structures on which the modern state is based would be quite fragile were its foundation not the centrality of the human person. It is respect for the person that makes democratic participation possible." "Scientific progress has resulted in advances that are unsettling for the consciences of men and women and call for solutions that respect ethical principles in a coherent and fundamental way. ... John Paul II, continuing the constant teaching of the Church, has reiterated many times that those who are directly involved in lawmaking bodies have a 'grave and clear obligation to oppose' any law that attacks human life. For them and for every Catholic, it is impossible to promote such laws or to vote for them. ... In this context, it must be noted also that a well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program or an individual law which contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals. The Christian faith is an integral unity, and thus it is incoherent to isolate some particular element to the detriment of the whole of Catholic doctrine." "When political activity comes up against moral principles that do not admit of exception, compromise or derogation, the Catholic commitment becomes more evident and laden with responsibility. In the face of fundamental and inalienable ethical demands ... what is at stake is the essence of the moral law, which concerns the integral good of the human person. This is the case with laws concerning abortion and euthanasia (not to be confused with the decision to forgo extraordinary treatments, which is morally legitimate). Such laws must defend the basic right to life from conception to natural death. In the same way, it is necessary to recall the duty to respect and protect the rights of the human embryo. Analogously, the family needs to be safeguarded and promoted, based on monogamous marriage between a man and a woman, and protected in its unity and stability in the face of modern laws on divorce: in no way can other forms of cohabitation be placed on the same level as marriage, nor can they receive legal recognition as such." "Regarding the education of their children, it is an inalienable right recognized also by the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. In the same way, one must consider society's protection of minors and freedom from modern forms of slavery (drug abuse and prostitution, for example). In addition, there is the right to religious freedom and the development of an economy that is at the service of the human person and of the common good, with respect for social justice, the principles of human solidarity and subsidiarity. ... Finally the question of peace must be mentioned. ... Peace is always 'the work of justice and the effect of charity'. It demands absolute and radical rejection of violence and terrorism and requires a constant and vigilant commitment on the part of all political leaders." "III. PRINCIPLES OF CATHOLIC DOCTRINE ON THE AUTONOMY OF THE TEMPORAL ORDER AND ON PLURALISM. While a plurality of methodologies reflective of different sensibilities and cultures can be legitimate in approaching such questions, no Catholic can appeal to the principle of pluralism or to the autonomy of lay involvement in political life to support policies affecting the common good which compromise or undermine fundamental ethical requirements. ... The appeal often made to 'the rightful autonomy of the participation of lay Catholics' in politics needs to be clarified. ... For Catholic moral doctrine, the rightful autonomy of the political or civil sphere from that of religion and the Church ? but not from that of morality - is a value that has been attained and recognized by the Catholic Church and belongs to the inheritance of contemporary civilization. ... The right and duty of Catholics and all citizens to seek the truth with sincerity and to promote and defend, by legitimate means, moral truths concerning society, justice, freedom, respect for human life and the other rights of the person, is something quite different. The fact that some of these truths may also be taught by the Church does not lessen the political legitimacy or the rightful 'autonomy' of the contribution of those citizens who are committed to them, irrespective of the role that reasoned inquiry or confirmation by the Christian faith may have played in recognizing such truths. ... It would be a mistake to confuse the proper autonomy exercised by Catholics in political life with the claim of a principle that prescinds from the moral and social teaching of the Church." "Living and acting in conformity with one's own conscience on questions of politics is not slavish acceptance of positions alien to politics or some kind of confessionalism, but rather the way in which Christians offer their concrete contribution so that, through political life, society will become more just and more consistent with the dignity of the human person. ... Those who, on the basis of respect for individual conscience, would view the moral duty of Christians to act according to their conscience as something that disqualifies them from political life, denying the legitimacy of their political involvement following from their convictions about the common good, would be guilty of a form of intolerant secularism." "IV. CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING PARTICULAR ASPECTS. In recent years, there have been cases within some organizations founded on Catholic principles, in which support has been given to political forces or movements with positions contrary to the moral and social teaching of the Church on fundamental ethical questions ... [that] are not compatible with membership in organizations or associations which define themselves as Catholic. ... It is insufficient and reductive to think that the commitment of Catholics in society can be limited to a simple transformation of structures, because if at the basic level there is no culture capable of receiving, justifying and putting into practice positions deriving from faith and morals, the changes will always rest on a weak foundation. ... In a society in which truth is neither mentioned nor sought, every form of authentic exercise of freedom will be weakened, opening the way to libertine and individualistic distortions and undermining the protection of the good of the human person and of the entire society." "In this regard, it is helpful to recall a truth which today is often not perceived or formulated correctly in public opinion: the right to freedom of conscience and, in a special way, to religious freedom, taught in the Declaration 'Dignitatis humanae' of the Second Vatican Council, is based on the ontological dignity of the human person and not on a non-existent equality among religions or cultural systems of human creation. ... The teaching on freedom of conscience and on religious freedom does not therefore contradict the condemnation of indifferentism and religious relativism by Catholic doctrine; on the contrary, it is fully in accord with it." "V. CONCLUSION. The principles contained in the present Note are intended to shed light on one of the most important aspects of the unity of Christian life: coherence between faith and life, Gospel and culture, as recalled by the Second Vatican Council."
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Only if they want to sell themselves as "Catholic" politicians.
I trust this puts an end to both the "Catholic" Kennedy clan as political force as well as certain "speaking as a Catholic" Personal Opinions around here where birth control and other grave moral matters are concerned.
This is not the priest problem, this problem with hypocritical representatives are the sole responsibility of the members of our own family, friends and neighbors in this great country. These elected representatives are defiling our culture, our country, and our churches.
Church; a religious body, a body or organization of religious believers: as a : the whole body of Christians.
Our churches family and neighbors, as well as our leaders need us now for more than critics and complainers. The Pope has clearly spoken the unambiguous words and the wrongdoers will hear what he said, but they will need a shove to get the word, not in the afterlife, but here on this planet. I don't give a damn whether these fools go to Hell, I am just sick and tired of what the wicked politicians are causing me Hell on earth.
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.I guess the rest is up to us!
Vatican urges Catholic politicians to vote along church lines
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