Rocco points to the very interesting nugget that Vatican Radio has broadcast a little bit of the Pope’s words to the Ontario bishops on their ad limina.

The text of the adress, in case you missed it on Friday, is here. The strong words against abortion and same-sex marriage have made news in Canada. Like…we’re surprised the Pope is against these things? Huh. Sort of like all those mock headlines Catholic bloggers gloried in after the papal election last year: "Shocker: Pope is Catholic."  Anyway:

But the pontiff’s strong criticism Friday re-ignited a debate about the separation of church and state in Canada. Gilles Marchildon, executive director of gay-rights advocates Egale Canada, said politicians represent all Canadians of various faiths and should keep their personal beliefs out of the House of Commons.

“Because of that, politicians have a responsibility to not be proponents of a particular faith when making decisions that affect everyone,” said Mr. Marchildon.

“We don’t have a state religion in Canada.”

Just as government doesn’t instruct the Catholic Church how to celebrate communion, the church shouldn’t instruct politicians on who can get married, he added.

“I’m surprised the Pope doesn’t realize that gate can swing both ways.”

Is that…a threat?

Pat O’Brien, the former Liberal London-area MP who resigned over his party’s stand on same-sex marriage, told CBC Newsworld there is no such thing as a separation between church and state.

“A morality of convenience is not much of a morality and if you’re going to leave behind your Catholic Christian beliefs and principles because you walk into a legislative chamber, to me that would be a morality of convenience,” said Mr. O’Brien, who is now part of Vote Marriage Canada.

“Politicians who say they are practicing Catholics and practising Christians will hopefully very carefully consider the words of the Holy Father.”

Moira McQueen, professor of theology at the University of Toronto, said the Pope’s comments were justified. Many outside the Catholic community feel the same-sex marriage debate was rushed through, Ms. McQueen said, and was driven more by political pressure than conscience.

“It was more a political push rather than a real need for the bulk of the population,” said Ms. McQueen, who is also director of the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute. “Any Catholic politician who was moving along the lines of same-sex marriage and totally ignoring what Pope Benedict was saying, isn’t really following their conscience from a Catholic perspective.”

The Pope’s message won’t go unnoticed by the Catholic community, Ms. McQueen said, especially come election time.

“I think he’ll have a fair amount of influence,” she said.