Religion and Politics

There are some who believe that a candidate's religious beliefs should not influence his politics. This sounds nice, but - if we were capable of truly separating what we personally believe to be true at the deepest levels of heart, mind, and soul from our actions, speech and public behaviors we would rightly be called hypocrites. The word hypocrite originates from the Greek language and was used to describe actors in a play: what you saw was not authentic but 'put on.' What manner of lunacy impels otherwise rational people to demand hypocrisy from those seeking political office or being appointed to one as a pre-condition to election or appointment, and then later whine and protest when such people demonstrate that they really do have feet of clay? Better by far to know a persons true character from the beginning and accept that every human being essentially lives out his or her core beliefs on a daily basis. These people are said to be morally integrated. You know what they believe and where they stand because they have integrity.

Individuals can behave morally and are rightly expected to meet certain minimal standards by other people. Governments, however, are only corporate identities and are at best capable of only acting justly. To expect morality from government is to be in a state of perpetual disappointment. Justice is as good as it can get - and that seems to be a worthwhile goal.

Religious people should not be excluded from the body politic because of their faith which informs their core beliefs. It is completely fair and desirable to exclude from public life those who would impose their religious preferences on others by fiat. Persuasion is legitimate; imposition by force never is.

TWO IMPORTANT QUOTES.

"I am told that religion and politics are different spheres of life. But I would say without a moment's hesitation and yet in all modesty that those who claim this do not know what religion is." --- M. K. Gandhi

"A religion that does not interfere with the secular order will soon discover that the secular order will not refrain from interfering with it." --- Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

Pax et bonum!