Spokesman for Archdiocese of Mexico encourages laity to participate in politics

Mexico City, Mexico, Jan 14, 2009 / 14:28 pm

The spokesman for the Archdiocese of Mexico City, Father Hugo Valdemar, encouraged the faithful this week to organize in order to defend Christian doctrine in public life, and he suggested that a new political party could be formed inspired by Catholic values.

“Forming a new political party would have an even greater impact, since as laypeople you have no impediment to participating in the public or political life of the country, even declaring yourselves to be openly Catholic,” Father Valdemar said.  “Constitutionally there is nothing that prohibits this,” he told reporters.

He went on to praise the recent protests in support of human life and the family, noting they have not been violent or radical and that it is not uncommon to hear shouts of “Long live Christ the King” at such events.  The phrase was a rallying cry during the Cristero persecution of early 20th century.

“Today we are not physically persecuted, but we are persecuted ideologically, because those who defend these precepts are called religious ‘kooks’ and suffer discrimination,” Father Valdemar said.

“These protests are not a call to arms but rather a call to defend and affirm the faith, because nobody is seeking to start an antagonistic movement when what the country needs is peace and reconciliation,” the priest said.