Vatican lays out teaching on social issues, politics and war

VATICAN CITY—A week before the US presidential election, the Vatican on Monday steered clear of taking sides on campaign questions such as whether the war in Iraq was just and if Catholics can vote for candidates who support laws allowing abortion.

“The Holy See never gets involved in electoral or political questions directly,” Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said, quickly intervening at a news conference when a top Vatican cardinal was asked if the faithful can vote for a candidate who supports legalized abortion.