God belongs in public life, Pope says
Benedict opens sensitive debate Synod to venture into political arena
VATICAN CITY—
Pope Benedict XVI has opened the first major church meeting since his election by describing societies that banish God from public life as unjust and hypocritical. The Pope delivered his message yesterday during a mass at St. Peter’s Basilica to open a three- week synod of 256 Roman Catholic bishops from 118 countries. His concern about the place of God in public life reflects an issue bishops will discuss at the synod — whether Catholic politicians who pass laws violating church doctrine should be refused communion.
“ The type of tolerance which permits God as a private opinion but refuses to allow him in the public arena is, in the reality of the world and our life, not tolerance but hypocrisy,” Pope Benedict said in the homily before the bishops.
“ There can be no justice where man makes himself the only master of the world and of himself,” he said. In such societies, the Pope added, “ man only wants to enjoy his own power.”
In Canada, some MPs were banned from receiving communion or taking part in church activities this summer after they backed a law allowing same- sex marriages. Prime Minister Paul Martin, who describes himself as a strong Catholic, has defended his support of the law by saying he believes in the separation of church and state. He also says the same-sex marriage law is backed by the Charter of Rights and a prime minister can’t “ cherry- pick those rights.” The issue of refusing communion to some politicians forms part of a larger synod discussion on the worthiness of Catholics who present themselves for the sacrament. The synod’s theme is the sacrament of the eucharist, which Catholics believe is the body and blood of Christ. The synod will include talks on the shortage of priests and the decline in church attendance in Europe and North America. The synod is a consultative body that advises the Pope, who then sets out the church’s position on the issues discussed. The working document for the synod specifically calls on Catholics not to vote for politicians who back “ immoral” choices.
“ Some Catholics do not understand why it might be a sin to support a political candidate who is openly in favour of abortion or other serious acts against life, justice and peace,” the document says. “ Such attitudes lead to, among other things, a crisis in the meaning of belonging to the church. . . .”
In the United States, Catholics were divided last year over whether they should support presidential candidate John Kerry, a Catholic who supported abortion rights. Pope Benedict is expected to attend most of the synod’s sessions, meeting many of the bishops for the first time since his election April 19.