Re:The Vatican's guidelines on politics. I wish they hadn't done it or had been more discreet about. The reason is that it then forces Catholic politicians to take stand vis a vis the gudelines and any clear thinking politician who is serious about being elected is then under pressure to present himself/herself as independent of the Vatican and not simply a mouth piece for the Vatican.

Being an elected official is a subtle thing that demands diplomacy, so that a Catholic elected official can fully intend to bring her/his Catholic morals to bear on a situation without alienating populations within her/his constituency. I think these guidelines force Catholics to be less subtle which makes their jobs more difficult. Oh well!