Roles of clergy and laity in politics

I believe that our country is now in that interesting stage where a clarification on the roles of clergy and laity in politics is much needed. Nowadays, different opinions on the matter are expressed, leaving many people confused.

It might be good to remit verbatim the official teaching of the Catholic Church, so that everyone can have a clear idea about the matter and can be guided accordingly.

Part of paragraph 43 of the pastoral constitution of the Catholic Church "Gaudium et spes" contains the pertinent teaching. I invite everyone to study it, slowly, calmly. Here it goes:

* Secular duties and activities belong properly although not exclusively to laymen. Therefore acting as citizens in the world, whether individually or socially, they will keep the laws proper to each discipline, and labor to equip themselves with a genuine expertise in their various fields;

* Laymen should also know that it is generally the function of their well-formed Christian conscience to see that the divine law is inscribed in the life of the earthly city.

* From priests they may look for spiritual light and nourishment. Let the layman not imagine that his pastors are always such experts, that to every problem which arises, however complicated, they can readily give him a concrete solution, or even that such is their mission.

* Rather, enlightened by Christian wisdom and giving close attention to the teaching authority of the Church, let the layman take on his own distinctive role.

* Often enough the Christian view of things will itself suggest some specific solution in certain circumstances. Yet it happens rather frequently, and legitimately so, that with equal sincerity some of the faithful will disagree with others on a given matter.

* Even against the intentions of their proponents, however, solutions proposed on one side or another may be easily confused by many people with the Gospel message.

* Hence it is necessary for people to remember that no one is allowed in the aforementioned situations to appropriate the Church's authority for his opinion.

* They should always try to enlighten one another through honest discussion, preserving mutual charity and caring above all for the common good;

* Bishops, to whom is assigned the task of ruling the Church of God, should, together with their priests, so preach the news of Christ that all the earthly activities of the faithful will be bathed in the light of the Gospel.

* All pastors should remember too that by their daily conduct and concern, they are revealing the face of the Church to the world, and men will judge the power and truth of the Christian message thereby.

* By their lives and speech, in union with Religious and their faithful, they may demonstrate that even now the Church by her presence alone and by all the gifts which she contains, is an unspent fountain of those virtues which the modern world needs the most.

* By unremitting study they should fit themselves to do their part in establishing dialogue with the world and with men of all shades of opinion. Above all let them take to heart the words which this council has spoken;

* Since humanity today increasingly moves toward civil, economic and social unity, it is more than ever necessary that priests, with joint concern and energy, and under the guidance of the bishops and the supreme pontiff, erase every cause of division, so that the whole human race may be led to the unity of God's family.

Given this indication, it is quite clear that in secular, temporal matters like politics, the laity take the more active and direct role, while the clergy gives guidance and fosters the proper atmosphere for dialogue and discussion especially when the issues generate different, even conflicting positions.

In this area, there can be no specific Catholic position, and it is not the mission of the clergy to give one, since the matters are by nature open to valid opinions and the free discussion of men.

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