Politicians cannot push their faith aside

By RAMON GONZALEZ
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

Catholic politicians cannot push their faith aside when issues like gay marriage and abortion come to a vote, says Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the primate of the Catholic Church in Canada.

"I think that Catholic politicians have to take into account the whole country and not only their community of faith, obviously, but their personal principles and their faith must play a role in their decisions," he said.

"And so when they are invited to vote in conscience they have to vote in conscience and according to their beliefs; and so in that sense their faith must play an important role in their vote."

Ouellet, a former rector of St. Joseph Seminary, spoke at a news conference at the Catholic Pastoral Centre Sept 8. He was in Edmonton to speak at the Priests' Retirement Fund dinner the next day at the Shaw Conference Centre.

Faith side-stepped

Speaking to reporters, the Quebec cardinal noted politicians are quick to put their faith aside when it comes to issues such as abortion and gay marriage.

"I think it is important to remind our politicians that the Constitution of Canada in its preamble says Canada is founded on values that respect the supremacy of God and of the law," he said.

"And so on the question of respect for life I think our country deserves laws that are more respectful of the human life from its very beginning until the end."

And he said Canada also deserves laws that are respectful of the institution of marriage, which is not just a human institution but also "an institution of the Creator."

Male and female

"He made us different: male and female. He created us for the future of the human race and also for love and so politicians must take into account the foundation of the constitution, which is the recognition of the supremacy of God."

Ouellet's comments on Canadian politics echoed Pope Benedict's thoughts on the same issue. Speaking to a group of Ontario bishops Sept. 8 the pope said Canada has excluded "God from the public sphere" with laws supporting same-sex marriage and abortion.

Ouellet said the pope was not directly criticizing any government but simply "reaffirming fundamental values for the common good."

"Marriage is between a man and a woman and the pope has been saying that very simply," he said. "He's been saying you don't need a scientific demonstration . . . nature is there and marriage is between a man and a woman and it is so in all cultures."

Same-sex marriage was legalized by Canada's Parliament last year but Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said there will be a vote in the House of Commons this fall to determine whether the issue should be revisited.

"I think they (politicians) must vote in conscience," Ouellet said. "They are Catholic and they have to take into account the teaching of their Church. But it is not only a question of religious teaching; it's a question of human reason."

Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 -- Western Catholic Reporter