Catholic official: Russian government's concern for poor matters most

Published: 2007-12-04

WARSAW, Poland (CNS) -- A Catholic official said the government's concern for Russia's most vulnerable people matters the most after parliamentary elections in which candidates loyal to President Vladimir Putin won overwhelmingly. "The Catholic Church has good ties with the authorities, especially at the federal level, and we hope our common activities will develop," said Father Igor Kovalevsky, secretary-general of the Russian bishops' conference. "What matters most now is that the new legislators and rulers show concern for the country's poorest and most vulnerable citizens -- invalids, pensioners and children." He told Catholic News Service Dec. 4 the Catholic Church would not express an opinion about the results and believed complaints of unfairness were "matters for the secular authorities. Participation in these elections showed democracy is developing here," said Father Kovalevsky. "Although the Catholic community is small, lay Catholics are also taking part in Russia's political life."

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