Today, however, democracy is incorrectly perceived by many as an ethically neutral political regime that is able to embrace values that are not only different but actually in opposition. Every political regime - and democracy is no exception - needs to be motivated by absolute values.

Religious motivation expresses a simple, profound principle: to provide a sound guarantee for the democratic search for the common good, which is at the root of every authentic political process.

A policy that reduces democracy to a mere convention could not do this, as is demonstrated by the nihilistic yet impeccably democratic result of so much contemporary legislation involving life itself: I am thinking here of legislation -- such as that found in Canada, Holland and the Netherlands -- that legalises homosexuality, same-sex marriage, abortion, euthanasia, and genetic manipulation. When decisions regarding life are put to the ballot, the binding character of laws is flawed: no conscience feels duty bound to bow down to mere numbers, nor can a polling booth be exchanged for a chapel.

It seems many theorists of democracy today have forgotten this simple truth.