The relationship of religion and politics has gone through various phases. One can look at it from the perspective of structures: Church and state or Church and political parties. One can look at it from the perspective of the individual politician or voter. How should the Catholic voter behave? How should the Catholic politician behave?

In recent weeks we tackled this subject more than once, especially with reference to the discussion/controversy taking place in the United States. The Democratic candidate for President is a Catholic but his position on abortion has brought him in conflict with the bishops. Should he be allowed to receive Communion? How should the Catholic voter behave?

The Catholic politician and the Catholic voter are members of the Church and are members of society. Does this dual membership bring different and perhaps contradictory duties and obligations?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, quoting Lumen Gentium, the Second Vatican Council's Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, tells us that the Catholic faithful should "distinguish between the rights and the duties which they have as belonging to the Church and those which fall to them as members of the human society. They will strive to unite the two harmoniously, remembering that in every temporal affair they are to be guided by a Christian conscience, since no human activity, even of the temporal order, can be withdrawn from God's dominion."

And the catechism further tells us that conscience must be informed and moral judgment must be enlightened. "Man is sometimes confronted by situations that make moral judgments less assured and decisions difficult," the catechism says.

How, then, do we make such decisions? "To this purpose, man strives to interpret the data of experience and the signs of the times assisted by the virtue of prudence, by the advice of competent people, and by the help of the Holy Spirit and his gifts"(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1788).

In the beginning of July the Catholic Bishops of the United States addressed this issue in the light of an extensive interim report from the Task Force they set up to advise them. The following are some of the points they highlighted.

"We need to continue to teach clearly and help other Catholic leaders to teach clearly on our unequivocal commitment to the legal protection of human life from the moment of conception until natural death. Our teaching on human life and dignity should be reflected in our parishes and our educational, healthcare and human service ministries."

We need to do more to persuade all people that human life is precious and human dignity must be defended. This requires more effective dialogue and engagement with all public officials, especially Catholic public officials. We welcome conversation initiated by political leaders themselves.

"Catholics need to act in support of these principles and policies in public life. It is the particular vocation of the laity to transform the world. We have to encourage this vocation and do more to bring all believers to this mission.

"As bishops, we do not endorse or oppose candidates. Rather, we seek to form the consciences of our people so that they can examine the positions of candidates and make choices based on Catholic moral and social teaching.

"The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honour those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honours or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.

"We commit ourselves to maintain communication with public officials who make decisions every day that touch issues of human life and dignity."

Regarding the thorny question of whether Holy Communion should be denied to some Catholics in politics because of their public support for abortion on demand the Bishops gave the following opinion: "Given the wide range of circumstances involved in arriving at a prudential judgment on a matter of this seriousness, we recognise that such decisions rest with the individual bishop in accord with the established canonical and pastoral principles.

"Bishops can legitimately make different judgments on the most prudent course of pastoral action. Nevertheless, we all share an unequivocal commitment to protect human life and dignity and to preach the Gospel in difficult times."

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