Politics and the Church

Appeal to Public Authorities

23. And now We wish to speak to rulers of nations. To you most of all is committed the responsibility of safeguarding the common good. You can contribute so much to the preservation of morals. We beg of you, never allow the morals of your peoples to be undermined. The family is the primary unit in the state; do not tolerate any legislation which would introduce into the family those practices which are opposed to the natural law of God. For there are other ways by which a government can and should solve the population problem—that is to

say by enacting laws which will assist families and by educating the people wisely so that the moral law and the freedom of the citizens are both safeguarded.

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I believe that the Pope is saying two things in this passage. Not only is he attacking gay marriages and relationships but also, over population and the alarmingly rate of population.

My translation, "Dear Presidents, Kings and Queens, Prime Minister, Speaker of the House, Politicians, and other high official world leaders, you all should commit your time to the common good. You have so much power and you can contribute so much power through your laws and constitutions to stop and ban gay marriages. You have the power to control people's choices to have same-sex marriage and you have a power to watch and control the preservation of moral."

I will just stop here and say that the Pope's purpose is to show that politicians and other leaders within the international community should use their influence and power over the citizens of the world to do what's good for them and teach them what's good for them rather than letting them doing unmoral things that they do not know is unmoral. He wants the government to push for the importance of "real" family (consisting of a man and woman) and ban any other type of unnatural law.

It seems as though the Pope usually forgets that he is a religious leader and in no way is he a political leader. A little historical context for you all, the Pope use to be a powerful man, once seen just as great as a God. He had an army and a following of soldiers that would do his 'dirty work' for him while he sat on his high chair and taught others his words. The Pope and so many religious hierarchy are in its hype of hypocrisy.

I believe that the Pope forgets to understand that political followers aren't as easily brainwash as religious followers. Often time, citizens are skeptical about politicians and their promises. Politicians can sometime prove to be deceitful. Therefore, the Pope doesn't understand relational understanding between politicians and citizens. Also, he neglects to understand American policies that the American government can't and should not nationally ban gay marriages in their country. The 10th Amendment clearly states if a law isn't present in the Constitution that the law is upheld by the state and/or local government. So the federal government has no business getting involved with this matter. The Pope is not above the law and he can not make irrational statements such as, "do not tolerate any legalization which would introduce into the family those practices which are opposed to the natural law of God." I'm sorry but Supreme Pontiff Paul VI, you are not above the law and you are not above the American government or any government for that matter.