CATHOLICS MUST BE ENGAGED IN POLITICAL DEBATE, SAYS POPE

30-March-2006 -- Catholic News Agency

Vatican City, March 30, 2006 (CNA) - Speaking earlier today to a group of parliamentarians from Europe’s Popular Party, Pope Benedict affirmed the need for a Catholic voice in the public square that informs consciences and helps citizens act “freely and responsibly.”

The Church has come under heavy fire in recent years--particularly in the U.S.--for engaging in political debate where some say it has no place. Critics charge that many politicians worldwide seek to relegate faith life merely to the private sphere.

Benedict reminded the parliamentarians however, "that when Churches or ecclesial communities intervene in public debate, expressing reservations or recalling various principles, this does not constitute a form of intolerance or interference.”

He said that the Church’s political interventions “are aimed solely at enlightening consciences, enabling them to act freely and responsibly, according to the true demands of justice, even when this should conflict with situations of power and personal interest."

In this light, the Pope said that the main area of the Church's intervention in the public sphere "is the protection and promotion of the dignity of the person.” “…She is thereby consciously drawing particular attention to principles which are not negotiable."

Here, he listed a number of principles for which Catholics must continue to fight. Namely, these are: "Protection of life in all its stages, from the first moment of conception until natural death; recognition and promotion of the natural structure of the family, as a union between a man and a woman based on marriage, and its defense from attempts to make it juridically equivalent to radically different forms of union which in reality harm it and contribute to its destabilization, obscuring its particular character and its irreplaceable social role; and the protection of the right of parents to educate their children.”

While he admitted that "These principles are not truths of faith, even though they receive further light and confirmation from faith,” he stressed that “they are inscribed in human nature itself and therefore they are common to all humanity.”

The Pope explained that “The Church's action in promoting them is therefore not confessional in character, but is addressed to all people, irrespective of any religious affiliation they may have."
He closed by calling on the politicians "to be credible and consistent witnesses of these basic truths through your political activity, and more fundamentally through your commitment to live authentic and consistent lives."

Word of Mother Theresa

The fruit of Silence is Prayer.

The fruit of Prayer is Faith.

The fruit of Faith is Love.

The fruit of Love is Service.

The fruit of Service is Peace.

habemus papam

Two weeks ago I was saddened by the loss of our beloved Pope, John Paul II. He was an inspiration and he touched the hearts of many. His message, during the 1995 World Youth Day, to "Tell the World of His Love" inspires us to reach out to the world and proclaim the Gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

The week after his death and the days before the conclave was a time for deep thought and reflection, where will we go afterwards, I often asked myself. There was a deep concern as news agencies often times during the passed few days highlights issues regarding contraception, abortion, homosexuality, aids, etc, and that the decline of people going to Mass especially in Europe is often blamed on the Church because of its hardline stance. It is sad that many people do not appreciate the fullness of truth proclaimed by the Church, instead they want to manipulate the Church and let it sway where they want it. It is heresy they want for the Church.

A beacon of light appeared when Cardinal Ratzinger presented last Monday to his fellow cardinals the direction where the Church should go and where it should stand, he made the cardinals aware of the present threats to the Church and that the Church should not give in.

And indeed, in the afternoon the next day, guided by the Holy Spirit, we have received a blessing from God. The cardinals elected him, Joseph Ratzinger, to succeed Peter in guiding the flock of Christ towards the path to salvation.Congratulations and welcome Pope Benedict XVI! May the grace of God be with you always.