In his latest foray into European politics, Pope Benedict xvi told Italian politicians March 13 they must not vote for laws that go against the Catholic Church’s position. Catholic legislators must strenuously defend the church’s “non-negotiable values,” the pope stated.

As secularism challenges “Christian” values across Europe, the pope not only seeks to use the power of the media to influence the masses in order to stem the tide, but also national laws. Ever since becoming pope, Benedict has used politics as one of his tools to instill Christianity back into the heart of Europe. Just a couple months into his reign, for example, the Vatican called for a boycott of a referendum to change Italy’s strict fertility laws. The boycott was successful in voiding the referendum.

Now Benedict has said Catholic politicians must not vote for bills endorsing such issues as abortion and homosexual marriage. He also “called for Sunday to remain a day of rest” (ansa, March 13). It is lawmakers’ social responsibility to give “public testimony to their faith,” the pope stated.

“In coming weeks the Italian bishops’ conference is expected to publish a document advising Catholics in parliament on how to act when a bill on rights for cohabiting couples comes up for approval” (ibid.; emphasis ours).

This is about more than just blocking laws that promote immorality. The Catholic Church is seeking to unite Europe under the power of religion—the Catholic religion, and Catholic laws. The Bible prophesies that this powerful entity will yet gain the power to enforce the policies—including Sunday worship—it now calls upon Europeans to uphold.