Pope- Church needs to be in political sphere of things

(Scripturelink Voter's Guide; c.f. Zenit News Service)

Article by Marc Aupiais

Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has once again fronted the truth that the church and state can live in harmony- showing how the Vatican and Italy have been able to respect each one's sovereignty. However- he believes that the freedom the church requires in God should not be limited to freedom to practice religion- but also freedom to influence the political and public square of the ever varying and sometimes hostile environments, in which she finds herself.

Once again, while allowing states to be run by laymen, or by foreigners to the church, Benedict- while respecting the concept- the Priest must never bear the sword (Summa Theologica- Saint Thomas Aquinas- Doctor of the Church), Benedict XVI once again shows us how vital it is for Catholics to become inebriated in grace- within the political spectrum- so as not only locally, but certainly locally- but also through the use of states- the universal truth may be made clearly known- and good may be fought for, as it once was yielded against the Donatists, when they thought they could murder with impunity.

Church and state are separate- but not layman and state- and nor should the morals guiding the church and the morals of the state be separate- rather the laws of the land must be made to reflect the laws of conscience and church. The Catholic is obligated to influence the political scene in which he exists, and the church has every right to be shown very publicly to be true.

Benedict XVI understands more than many that the church is the conscience of the state, and its watchdog- it must be fully empowered through allowance of it in the Public Realm- so as to permit it to do the work of fighting for what is right and true, through itself and through governments. Church and state may be two separate powers, but they exist in but one reality, with one God- and as such must be on the same side- least the state turn on the church as in Vietnam currently- where the Bishops are asking for our prayers.

Once again- Benedict XVI shows us the importance of voting for those who best reflect the church- and of having the church as a public teacher and warning for all our brothers in humanity!