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Vatican Calls Catholic Politicians Into Line
Reuters ^ | 16 January 2003 | Reuters

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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: abortionlist; catholiclist; homosexualagenda; popepacksbags; prolife
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The AP story starts out this way:

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.

1 posted on 01/16/2003 6:48:56 AM PST by Petronski
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To: *Catholic_list
It's about time, isn't it?
2 posted on 01/16/2003 6:49:28 AM PST by Petronski (I'm not always cranky.)
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3 posted on 01/16/2003 6:49:57 AM PST by Support Free Republic (Your support keeps Free Republic going strong!)
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To: Polycarp
All it needs now is the 'teeth' of excommunication as an alternative.
4 posted on 01/16/2003 6:50:31 AM PST by Petronski (I'm not always cranky.)
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To: Petronski
Don't hold your breath....
5 posted on 01/16/2003 6:52:35 AM PST by netmilsmom (Partly cloudy because I'm a mom)
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To: Petronski
Right. I want to see the E-word.
6 posted on 01/16/2003 6:55:33 AM PST by The Old Hoosier (FMCDH)
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To: Petronski
Hey Teddie, hear that?
7 posted on 01/16/2003 6:56:49 AM PST by mc5cents
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To: Petronski
Long past time....
8 posted on 01/16/2003 6:57:51 AM PST by toenail
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To: nickcarraway
ping
9 posted on 01/16/2003 6:58:39 AM PST by Desdemona (Pitchers and Catchers report in 29 days. And it's snowing (whine))
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To: The Old Hoosier
I want to see the E-word.

Even that might not get their attention, but a few new "guidelines" in an obscure document surely won't do the trick.

10 posted on 01/16/2003 7:00:42 AM PST by madprof98
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To: Petronski
This is all very well, but in the end it all comes down to episcopal cojones. If AmChurch bishops are negligent or malfeasant -- and they are -- then the publication of "new" guidelines is like yelling in the face of a hurricane.
11 posted on 01/16/2003 7:05:05 AM PST by Romulus
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To: hobbes1; dubyaismypresident
i hope that they go great guns after this.
12 posted on 01/16/2003 7:08:16 AM PST by xsmommy
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To: xsmommy; dubyaismypresident
Like the above posters said, they should be under pain of
excommunication.
13 posted on 01/16/2003 7:18:19 AM PST by hobbes1 ( Vescere bracis meis)
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To: hobbes1
Of course, this probably will make it much tougher for Catholic politicians to get elected in this country, with the spectre of "divided loyalties" hanging over them like a sword of Damocles.
14 posted on 01/16/2003 7:21:05 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: Petronski
It is about time. It may be too little too late, but it is a refreshing start. The question is, which politician does the Church make an example of first? Ted Kennedy is the biggest scum who comes in my mind!
15 posted on 01/16/2003 7:30:31 AM PST by Gerish
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Comment #16 Removed by Moderator

Comment #17 Removed by Moderator

To: TonyRo76
There's another thread on the religion forum, thanks.

It would have been nice to see more teeth in it.
18 posted on 01/16/2003 7:35:00 AM PST by Desdemona (Pitchers and Catchers report in 29 days. And it's snowing (whine))
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To: madprof98
"a few new guidelines in an obscure document won't do the trick"

Absolutely true. Liberal Catholics don't give a damn what the pope says even when the guidelines aren't in obscure documents. Here in Seattle, Catholic churches routinely flout norms set by the Vatican. In many parts of the USA, there are parallel churches - the official church of traditional doctrine, and the actual church in which people do as they please. It is this latter church that created the climate conducive to all the sex scandals that have rocked the church.
19 posted on 01/16/2003 7:36:43 AM PST by Steve_Seattle
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To: Gerish
I agree -- until there are actually some visible consequences to these so-called Catholic politicians, this is just words on paper.
20 posted on 01/16/2003 7:37:49 AM PST by workerbee
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