The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, has defended the right of Christians to participate in public life even when their role led to disagreement.
In a speech in Knock, Co Mayo, Archbishop Martin said the culture in Ireland had changed and that the church had to "live within the reality of that change".
However, he continued: "The Church has its role in society and the message of Jesus Christ can and must be proclaimed in an appropriate way to any society. Christians and the Christian Church have a right and an obligation to express concerns about the manner in which those who are called to exercise responsibility in politics, in the economy and in society respond to the fundamental mandate of care for citizens and the common good that is entrusted to them."
This is a "non-negotiable for the Church", he said, "even when that message might not meet with agreement and acceptance".
"The Church’s mandate is however not simply a mandate to take pot shots from the sidelines, but must always be perceivable as an expression of genuine concern for people and as a willingness to work in solidarity," Archbishop Martin told his audience.
Quoting the phrase “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s,” Archbishop Martin said the church has "no role or desire to replace Caesar or in substituting itself for the political forum".
"'Rendering to Caesar' also however reminds us of the limitations of politics. Caesar is not God. Politics is not just real politik," he said.
"In a democratic system politicians are answerable to those who elect them, but not just that. Politicians are answerable to the challenges which affect the lives of citizens and of society and not just as potential voters, but as human beings who live and who are influenced by the concrete culture which grows up around them.
“Listening recently to some comments which seemed to express unease at the fact the Irish bishops would address the political community on a fundamental question affecting society, I was struck to find in my diary just one year earlier, politicians complaining that the bishops had not been speaking publicly in support of a Yes vote at the Lisbon treaty. True pluralism respects constructive voices whether they are welcome or not.”
Responding to the speech, the Iona Institute said it welcomed Archbishop Martin’s "de facto rebuttal of Minister John Gormley’s warning to the Church not to 'intrude' in State matters”.