(Zenit.org).- A big part of the vocation of Christian laypeople is their participation in politics, says Benedict XVI.
The role of the laity in the temporal order, and especially in politics, is key for the evangelization of society, the Pope affirmed today when he received in audience the bishops of Paraguay. The prelates have been in Rome since Sept. 8 on their five-yearly visit...
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THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: In a related story, the bishops of Kansas City elaborated on what that vocation and role specifically entails...
(LifeNews.com) -- Two leading Catholics bishops have issued a statement making it clear that pro-life issues like abortion and euthanasia must be the top priority for Catholic voters. While not endorsing any candidate, the Catholic leaders say those issues should guide the choices Catholic voters make in November.
Kansas City, Kansas Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and Kansas City - St. Joseph Bishop Robert W. Finn address the questions in a joint pastoral letter released Thursday.
"With the approaching general election this November, we believe this to be an important moment for us to address together the responsibility of Catholics to be well informed and well formed voters," they say.
While Catholic voters should be concerned with "a wide range of issues" about which there is disagreement as to the best public policies.
But when it comes to pro-life issues, the Church strongly believes a pro-life policy is necessary without compromise, they say.
"There are, however, some issues that always involve doing evil, such as legalized abortion ... as well as public policies permitting euthanasia ... or destructive human embryonic stem cell research," they write.
"A properly formed conscience must give such issues priority even over other matters with important moral dimensions. To vote for a candidate who supports these intrinsic evils because he or she supports these evils is to participate in a grave moral evil. It can never be justified," they say.
They go on to say they can envision no reason why a pro-life Catholic voter would support a pro-abortion candidate....
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