Zaangażowanie polityczne katolików w świetle „Noty doktrynalnej o niektórych aspektach działalności i postępowania katolików w życiu politycznym”

Abstract

It is impossible to overestimate the significance of politics in the modern world. Important spheres of human life, like marriage and family or culture are under a strong influence of broadly understood politics. Political decisions refer not only to the present, but they also have a bearing on the future, and in a sense they concern future generations, too. All this results in the contemporary Church’s teaching that undertakes the issue of politics and Catholics’ participation in political life. Doctrinal Note on Some Aspects of Catholics' Work and Conduct in Political Life issued on 24 November 2002 by the Congregation for the Teaching of Faith is an example of this interest. The article discusses – in the light of the mentioned document – the most important principles that a Catholic involved in politics should be guided by. Next it shows the subject and the forms of political activity (participation in free elections and affiliation to political parties). At the end we find a short characterization of dangers that, according to the Note, the contemporary politics is exposed to.