|
I. A constant
teaching
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith, having received the opinion of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, has
decided that it would be appropriate to publish the present Doctrinal Note
on some questions regarding the participation of Catholics in political life. This
Note is directed to the Bishops of the Catholic Church and, in a particular
way, to Catholic politicians and all lay members of the faithful called to
participate in the political life of democratic societies.
1. 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: Christians, as one Early Church writer stated, «play their full role as
citizens».1 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».2 Though subjected to various forms of
psychological pressure, Saint Thomas More refused to compromise, never
forsaking the «constant fidelity to legitimate authority and institutions»
which distinguished him; he taught by his life and his death that «man cannot be
separated from God, nor politics from morality».3
It is commendable that
in today’s democratic societies, in a climate of true freedom, everyone is made
a participant in directing the body politic. 4 Such societies call for new and
fuller forms of participation in public life by Christian and non-Christian
citizens alike. Indeed, all can contribute, by voting in elections for
lawmakers and government officials, and in other ways as well, to the
development of political solutions and legislative choices which, in their
opinion, will benefit the common good. 5 The life of a democracy could not
be productive without the active, responsible and generous involvement of
everyone, «albeit in a diversity and complementarity
of forms, levels, tasks, and responsibilities».6
By fulfilling their
civic duties, «guided by a Christian conscience»,7
in conformity with its values, the lay
faithful exercise their proper task of infusing the temporal order with
Christian values, all the while respecting the nature and rightful autonomy of
that order, 8 and cooperating with other
citizens according to their particular competence and responsibility. 9 The consequence of this fundamental
teaching of the Second Vatican Council is that «the lay faithful are never to
relinquish their participation in ‘public life’, that is, in the many different
economic, social, legislative, administrative and cultural areas, which are
intended to promote organically and institutionally the common good».10 This would include the promotion and defence of goods such as public order and peace, freedom
and equality, respect for human life and for the environment, justice and
solidarity.
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. 11 The emergence of ambiguities or
questionable positions in recent times, often because of the pressure of world
events, has made it necessary to clarify some important elements of Church
teaching in this area.
|