The reason why religion is getting a voice on many issues is that the politicians do not want to anger the hierarchy within the church because they are going to lose support at election time. The Roman Catholic Church still has an impact on the voting populace.
There is a law that separates state and religion. Unfortunately, on pressing issues, the religions are voicing their concern or want to be relevant to the problem.
That is right. Many politicians uses the churches and its influences regardless of their affiliation so that they can get their vote and approval if ever they are in need of favor.
It is also the reason why they are given the relevance to most issues because it's part of their job to watch their people and society.
If it's already alarming to them, they just can't turn a blind eye to the issues and so they're releasing press releases or whatever media they use to speak for themselves.