Pontiff Lists 3 Principles for Christians in Politics

Defense of Life; Recognition of the Family; Freedom of Education

VATICAN CITY, MARCH 30, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI insists on three non-negotiable principles for the Church and Christians in public life: protection of life, recognition of the family and freedom of education.

The Pope highlighted these principles in an address today to some 500 parliamentarians of the European Popular Party, who are holding a congress in Rome.

In his address, in response to the greetings of Hans Gert Pöttering, president of the parliamentary group, the Holy Father began by pointing out the right of religious parliamentarians to express their principles in a democratic society.

"When Churches or ecclesial communities intervene in public debate, expressing reservations or recalling various principles," he said, "this does not constitute a form of intolerance or an interference, since such interventions are aimed solely at enlightening consciences, enabling them to act freely and responsibly, according to the true demands of justice, even when this should conflict with situations of power and personal interest."

Benedict XVI said that the focus of public interventions by the Catholic Church "is the protection and promotion of the dignity of the person and she is thereby consciously drawing particular attention to principles which are not negotiable."

The Pope spelled out these principles thus:

-- "protection of life in all its stages, from the first moment of conception to natural death";

-- "recognition and promotion of the natural structure of the family -- as a union between a man and a woman based on marriage -- and its defense from attempts to make it juridically equivalent to radically different forms of union which in reality harm it and contribute to its de-stabilization, obscuring its particular character and its irreplaceable social role";

-- and "the protection of the right of parents to educate their children."

Common to all

Benedict XVI clarified: "These principles are not truths of faith, even though they receive further light and confirmation from faith; they are inscribed in human nature itself and therefore they are common to all humanity."

"The Church's action in promoting them is therefore not confessional in character, but is addressed to all people, prescinding from any religious affiliation they may have," he said.

This task to defend the fundamental aspect of human dignity, should not only be carried out by the Church, the Holy Father continued.

In fact, he said, it "is all the more necessary the more these principles are denied or misunderstood, because this constitutes an offense against the truth of the human person, a grave wound inflicted onto justice itself."