THE CHRISTIAN OUGHT TO TAKE PART IN POLITICS

The Christian is a citizen, a member of society and cannot be outside the Patria, indifferent to what happens in his country.
Political is anyone who takes an interest in the advance of his country, one who is concerned, at least in word and thought, that society exists for service for one and all.
The a-political is a bad citizen, unconcerned with what happens in the society.
The politikos, Greek word whence comes the word political, is denizen of the polis (“city” in Greek) who takes part in the life of the society of the city.
The a-political does not merit enjoyment of the benefits of the society, being uninterested in taking part in the struggles and problems of the Patria.
Many people there are who excuse themselves from participating in political affairs, saying that politics is a dirty business, a fraud, a corruption, that only serves for the enrichment of sharp operators.
Lamentably many doctors, lawyers, engineers...have transformed their profession into a business for making money, with no regard for the rights of clients... Are we, then, to caution our young not to study medicine, law, and engineering that they not also behave as merchants...?
If politics has become something dirty and full of fraud, it is high time indeed that men of cleanliness and sincerity intervened, that politics be transformed into an instrument at the service of society and of the people.
A Christian is a person who – following Christ - must endeavor to do the maximum good to his fellows.
Let us keep in mind the words of Pedro about Jesus: “Jesus of Nazareth...God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and...he went about doing well and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil...” (Acts 10, 38).
The Christian must busy himself over a brother of his who is hungry, or naked, or landless, or unjustly imprisoned. Otherwise, he deserves to be cast off by Christ: “Away from me, condemned...”
Political power has in its hands the key to the solution of most problems that the society confronts:
Who is it has the power to launch a profound program of agrarian reform in order that there be redistribution of land justly done and, so, successfully combating the hunger of thousands of brothers of ours?
Who is it can put a stop to the robbery of our mineral wealth in gold, ferronickel, bauxite...? Who is it can put this wealth at the service of the nation? Is it not political power?
Who can give just laws which make safe the dignity and the rights of all citizens?
Who can invest the wealth of the nation to create work, schools, hospitals, and roads?
Who can protect the working force against abuses of economic power? 
Who can help the entire people with education that reaches everybody? 
Who can best protect the rights of liberty for all...?
Nobody like the political power in service of all citizens…
It is necessary to take part in politics in order to put this extraordinary instrument within reach of every one of the children of God. If we wish to perform the greatest good, we have to seek the best tool reaching the greatest number: political power.
Paul VI makes note of the tremendous importance of political power when he declares. “It is something everybody knows that, in social and economic fields -as much domestic as international- the ultimate decision belongs to political power.” 
(Octogésima Adveniens, n. 46, 1971)
The Pope believes that the Christian is obliged to participate in political life, and, therefore, affirms:
“The double aspiration towards equality and participation tries to develop a kind of democratic society. Many models have been suggested, some of them having already been tried out; none of them satisfies completely and the search continues between tendencies that are ideological and pragmatic. The Christian has the obligation to take part in this search, the same in the organization and in political life” (Octogésima Adveniens, n. 24).
The Pope makes an urgent call to Christians in order that we build a better world via our taking part in politics:
“Inspired by the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, Savior of mankind, upheld by hope, the Christian promises to share in the construction of a city that is human, peaceful just and fraternal and that also be an agreeable offering to God.” (Octogésima Adveniens, n. 37).