Mexican bishops seek political role, want anti-clerical laws lifted

Published: 2004-02-03

MEXICO CITY (CNS) -- Mexican bishops said they want to play a more active role in the nation's political life and will lobby the government this year to ease Mexico's anti-clerical laws. With 10 gubernatorial elections scheduled in 2004, the bishops plan to voice their political opinions despite laws in Mexico that restrict the clergy's involvement in politics, said Mexico City Auxiliary Bishop Guillermo Ortiz Mondragon, spokesman for the Mexican bishops' conference. "We have the right to participate," Bishop Ortiz told Catholic News Service in a Jan. 27 interview. "Indeed, we feel obligated to participate in our society's political life." Bishop Ortiz said church officials will urge parishioners to go to the polls as part of their civic duty, though he added they also will "provide orientation on (political) subjects that involve us."

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