Pope: Catholic Politicians Need to Be Aware of Christian Identity

From Zenit News Agency:

VATICAN CITY, DEC. 18, 2005 (Zenit.org) - One of the challenges facing the Church is to help Catholic politicians recognize their Christian identity and act accordingly, says Benedict XVI.

The Pope addressed this topic Saturday when receiving in audience a third group of Polish bishops making their five-yearly visit to the Holy See.

Recalling the teachings of the Second Vatican Council's constitution "Gaudium et Spes," the Holy Father said: "Those who are suited or can become suited should prepare themselves for the difficult, but at the same time, the very noble art of politics, and should seek to practice this art without regard for their own interests or for material advantages."

Referring to Catholic politicians, he continued: "With integrity and wisdom, they must take action against any form of injustice and tyranny, against arbitrary domination by an individual or a political party and any intolerance.

"They should dedicate themselves to the service of all with sincerity and fairness, indeed, with the charity and fortitude demanded by political life."

To do this, the Pope added, "Christian politicians cannot remain without the help of the Church."

My Comments:
Most of the Catholic politicians in this country have no problem with being aware of their Catholic or Christian "identity". They play that for all it's worth at election time.

Their problems arise when it comes to applying Catholic or Christian "teachings" in their public policymaking decisions. It's then that they become "personally opposed, but ..."