Canadian bishops ponder politics

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has a draft of a statement on the 2008 federal election, and the bishops plan to discuss it before going public perhaps as early as next week.

The original plan was to discuss the statement at the bishops' annual plenary meeting Sept. 22-25 in Cornwall, Ont., but a very short 37-day election campaign may move the bishops to put their statement out earlier, according to a CCCB spokesperson.

The national conference of bishops last issued a voters' guide in 2004. Before the 2006 election the bishops sent a letter urging political involvement.

"Political involvement is key for the future of our society," the bishops said. "Citizens too often undervalue politics and public service."

To read the full text of the Nov. 30, 2005, letter on political involvement click here.