Citizens like any others” “

A necessary “clarification” on some important aspects and dimensions of political life to avert “the grave dangers to which some cultural tendencies would like to subject forms of legislation and, consequently, the conduct of future generations”. With this objective, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in consultation with the Pontifical Council for the Laity, published on 24 November, and released to the press, a “Doctrinal Note on some questions concerning the involvement and conduct of Catholics in political life”. Some clarifications. The first “clarification” contained in the Note of the Congregation is on cultural relativism and the ever more widespread conviction today that “ethical pluralism is the condition for democracy”. The Church affirms instead that “political liberty is not, nor can be, based on the relativist idea that all conceptions about the good of man have the same truth and the same value”. This is the enunciation of a principle of general character: the next step is its application to “the true good” of man and society through political action. The first major context taken into consideration is “the inviolability of human life”. The Church reminds Catholics of their “precise obligation to oppose” any law that “constitutes an attack on human life” and, recalling a passage of the Encyclical “ Evangelium Vitae“, adds: “in the case in which it proves impossible to completely avert or abrogate a pro-abortion law already in force or put to the vote”, a Catholic member of parliament could “licitly offer his own support to proposals aimed at limiting the damage of such a law and reducing its negative effects”. The Note then reviews the civil laws on euthanasia. It reaffirms the “primary right to life from its conception to its natural end”; the “duty to protect the human embryo”; and the need to promote “the family, based on monogamous marriage between persons of different sex”. Other concerns reviewed by the Note are the social protection of minors, the right to religious freedom, and peace. A final clarification: by its publication of the Note, the Congregation does not intend “in the least” “to exercise a political power or eliminate the freedom of opinion of Catholics”. Its aim is rather to recall Catholics “to the Christian’s unity of life”, in other words the necessary coherence “between faith and life, between Gospel and culture”. Some comments. According to Bishop Hyppolite Simon of Clermont and expert on political and social questions, the Church does not ask Catholic politicians for any “confessional belonging”. “The Note – he says – resumes, instead, the teaching of Vatican II on the autonomy of the involvement of Catholics in politics. It affirms that Catholics are citizens committed together with everyone else to the state of law and democracy”. The Congregation warns against ethical relativism: namely, “that form of conduct – explains the bishop – according to which a person decides to act as he chooses and it doesn’t matter how. But there are values that are innate in the human person. And the first of these values asks us to do nothing that may be contrary to the dignity and the integrity of the human person. In particular, politicians are asked to implement programmes that try to promote the person in all his dimensions according to those moral values that are universal and that cannot be left to the free choice of this or that majority”. The Note lastly “appeals to Catholics, who are asked by the Church to remain faithful to, and act consistently with, their conscience, and never tire of reflecting, informing themselves and working together”. There is no risk of Catholics being “roped in”. “In proportion as each politician recognizes the dignity of the human person – explains the bishop of Clermont – it will be easy for them to find agreement, on the basis of the universality of the values of man, even with those who don’t necessarily share the Catholic faith”. The Note has also been commented on by Cardinal Joachim Meisner, archbishop of Cologne. “A Sunday Christianity, that withdraws into the restricted ecclesial sphere, – he says – is contrary to its mission”. Catholics are urged “not to develop any inferiority complex”, and to show in society “a coherence between faith and life, between Gospel and culture”. According to Cardinal Meisner, the Vatican note “does not intend to place in question” the “lay character” of the political involvement of Catholics. It demands on the contrary “a dialogue on an equal footing”.