From The Brandon Sun “Prime Minister Paul Martin said Friday he separates his privately held Roman Catholic beliefs from his duties as a politician, despite the apparent threat he could lose access to the sacrament of communion for his government’s stand on same-sex marriage.
Catholic bishops meeting in Vatican City at the first synod led by newly anointed Pope Benedict XVI are expected to consider refusing communion to politicians who pass laws that violate church doctrine. “I am a practising Catholic, in fact I am a strong Catholic,” Martin said at a news conference with visiting Mexican President Vicente Fox.
“But I am also a legislator and I believe in the separation of church and state.“”
This is good news, and these kinds of statements (backed by actions) make me respect Mr. Martin, even if I don’t always agree with his decisions.
It is disturbing that the Catholic Church is willing to attempt to influence governments all over the world in this fashion; I do not like the churches values being imposed on people like myself who do not share the same values. I will respect the churches values, and points of view only if they show respect for values and points of view that differ from their own.
It is nice to have at least one thing we can respect our PM for. I not only agree with his stance of not letting his personal and/or religious views affect legislation.