Time for Reflection
Good afternoon. The first item of business is time for reflection. I am delighted to welcome as our time for reflection leader His Excellency Archbishop Faustino Sainz Muñoz, the apostolic nuncio.
Archbishop Faustino Sainz Muñoz (Apostolic Nuncio):
Mr Presiding Officer and members of the Scottish Parliament, I am truly grateful for the kind invitation that has been extended to me by the Scottish Parliament to lead the time for reflection today. I am aware of the parameters of the talk, which were clearly indicated by the instructions that were given about this short reflection. For me, as diplomat and archbishop, the task is particularly challenging, since I am aware that, as a diplomat, I must refrain from any interference in the internal affairs of a country and, as archbishop, I must avoid any remarks that may seem to take sides in a political debate.
So I thought that I would simply state, as a matter of information, how the Catholic church regards political life. The Catholic church places political activity in high regard and views those who engage in politics with much esteem. It does so because it believes that political activity
"exists for the common good: this is its full justification and meaning and the source of its specific and basic right to exist".
Those words are from the Vatican council document on the church in the modern world. In other words, the very raison d'être of politics is to promote what is good for individuals and communities as a whole. In fact, the church understands the common good as that which
"embraces the sum total of all those conditions of social life which enable individuals, families, and organisations to achieve complete and efficacious fulfilment".
Therefore, I say without any hesitation that a noble task has been entrusted to you, dear members of this Parliament, by your fellow citizens—a task that has as its goal the total and complete good of your fellow citizens and your country. That understanding of political life has been enshrined in the teaching of the church since the second Vatican council and has directed the church's relation with political activity ever since.
Pope John Paul II elaborated on that approach to political life on 4 November 2000, in the jubilee for members of Parliament and politicians in Rome. He stated that, since political activity is for the common good, it
"ought … to be carried out in a spirit of service"
and that
"Christians who engage in politics—and who wish to do so as Christians—must act selflessly, not seeking their own advantage, or that of their group or party, but the good of one and all, and consequently, in the first place, that of the less fortunate members of society".
Therefore, because politics, in the vision of the church, deals with the good of people, individually and collectively, the primary subject of the political system is the human person. As a result, there are matters and issues that arise that the church considers are related fundamentally to the dignity of the human person. Those matters are life, family, education, religious belief, justice and protection for those most in need in society. The church's approach to such issues is based above all on the nature of the human person as created in the image and likeness of God.
Consequently, you can understand why the church takes such an interest in those questions. It does so not in an attempt to impose its views or doctrines on society—and even less on any legislative body—but rather in a spirit of service to the common good and the nature of the human person, realities that transcend institutions but must rely on the good intentions of institutions to be protected and safeguarded. In that context, it is even foreseen that, at times, the church can offer its own expertise on those universal questions in collaboration with public authorities while always respecting the distinct competencies that each has.
Obviously, I am very much aware of the challenges facing you as lawmakers in a pluralistic society, which has many voices and different points of view about a whole range of issues. Nonetheless, a convergence can be found in keeping in mind the principles whose goal you have as legislators in a spirit of service to your country: to promote the common good and to respect the nature and dignity of the human person.
Once again, I thank you for this unique opportunity to stand before you, members of this august assembly, who have the truly noble task of serving your fellow citizens to assist them in attaining their highest aspirations.