Mexican church officials downplay impact of constitutional proposals

Published: 2008-03-27

MEXICO CITY (CNS) -- A proposal by the Mexican bishops to change the country's constitution to allow more clergy participation in political and social activities has drawn criticism, but church officials are downplaying its potential impact. Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera of Mexico City endorsed the concept of keeping church and state separate in a mid-March message, telling Catholics that "for no reason" can the bishops' proposal "be thought of as competition for or an intrusion into Caesar's power." Armando Martinez, president of the College of Catholic Lawyers, told Catholic News Service that the proposed reforms would replace "antiquated" laws and bring the Mexican Constitution in line with the U.N.'s Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In late February, the Mexican bishops called for the constitutional amendments to enshrine the concept of "freedom of religion" in the constitution. Currently, the language guarantees "freedom of worship." Bishop Carlos Aguiar Retes of Texcoco, president of the Mexican bishops' conference, assured people in February that no one wanted a bishop "to be president of the country."

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