New Mexico bishops warn politicians, 'We speak for the Church'

Politicians warned against appearing as though they represent the Church.

The bishops of New Mexico have issued a statement warning Catholic politicians not to take public stances against the teachings of their own faith. They warn the statements can be "confusing" and "separates a person from communion with the Catholic faith."

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- The bishops of New Mexico have warned politicians that they can confuse fellow Catholics when they take public positions that are contrary to Catholic teaching.

This is a common problem. Catholic politicians on both sides of the political spectrum often take public positions that are contradictory to the Church's teaching. On the left, Catholics support abortion, abortifacients and other anti-life political objectives. On the right, they support the death penalty, and are opposed to universal healthcare and compassionate immigration policies.

When politicians make a public profession of their Catholic faith, then support a position that is contrary to the faith, they endanger themselves and others.

In their statement, the bishops wrote that politicians who support things like abortion and physician-assisted suicide "do not represent" the Church, and "may be confusing to the Catholic faithful."

"It is not appropriate for elected officials to publicly invoke their Catholic faith and to present their personal opinions as official church teaching. This misrepresents church teaching and creates a public scandal for the faithful. Furthermore, this action publicly separates a person from communion with the Catholic faith."

"We the bishops of the state of New Mexico speak for the Catholic Church. We work to uphold the dignity of the human person from conception to natural death through our pastoral ministries and through our legislative advocacy via the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops."

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