The Catholic Church in Mexico has called on candidates to the 2006 Presidential elections to take a stand on issues like the family and abortion, reports Reuters.

Mexico’s conference of Catholic bishops made the call in a public letter on Monday for candidates to lay down clear proposals and address priorities like crime and job creation, as well as primary issues of concern to the church.

“We are particularly interested that they speak honestly about issues related to respect for life and strengthening families,” said the council.

The appeal to the presidential candidates coincides with a growing debate over euthanasia and follows recent controversy over the use of emergency contraception which split President Vicente Fox’s Cabinet whilst revealing enormous unanimity between Roman Catholic leaders.

Highlighting attempts by some lawmakers to legalise abortion, Cardinal Noberto Rivera told Mexico City’s Christian community that “one should not obey” where government policy contradicts human rights.

The call from the Catholic leaders has unnerved many who prize the distinction between church and state.

“Historically, the church has taken a position in electoral processes and flirted with the possibility of taking a greater role than allowed, and it is always criticised,” said Marcela Bobadilla, a political analyst at Mexico’s IMEP think tank.

What appears new this time is the move to influence public affairs through civic education programmes, rather than from the pulpit, she said.

The church will run a number of workshops in the run up to the campaign to educate voters and “remind them that Christian faith commits the believer to the creation of a more just society”.

Mexico is home to the world’s second-largest Catholic population.