Vatican invites Catholics to shun everything modern

It turned the screws on Catholic publications, saying they had to be more forceful and precise in promoting Catholic views on the defence of human life and not put forward different opinions in the name of pluralism.

The position was outlined in a new document called Doctrinal Note on Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life. The document, which reaffirms traditional Church teaching, was addressed to Catholic politicians and all Church lay members who participate in political life.

The 17-page document said Catholics could not claim complete autonomy from Church teachings in their moral choices and could not support certain laws in the name of tolerance, pluralism or freedom of choice.

‘‘Democracy must be based on the true and solid foundation of non-negotiable ethical principles, which are the underpinning of life in society,’’ said the document by the Vatican’s doctrinal department, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

‘‘Those who are directly involved in lawmaking bodies have a grave and clear obligation to oppose any law that attacks human life. For them, as for every Catholic, it is impossible to promote such laws or to vote for them,’’ it said. (Reuters)