June 11, 2006

    The saying Politics and Religion don’t mix is a very familiar expression for many of us.  Although is may be true in casual encounters with neighbors and friends, perhaps even family,  i.e., when we don’t want the conservation to become too hot and heavy, the truth of the matter is, politics and religion must become a healthy mix in our daily lives.

    This week’s Gospel tells us that Jesus encouraged the paying of taxes to Caesar.  The implication is a serious one.  As citizens of a country, we cannot allow ourselves to be exempt from participation in the affairs of the state.  As a matter of fact, if we are serious believers of the Christian faith, we must be serious participants in the affairs of our government.

    The government, not unlike our church, has given us many reasons to become cynical and passive.  We could easily use the dishonesty of the politicians to become inactive citizens.  We all know that when we want an excuse for getting out of a responsibility, it is quite simple to find one.  This is true in all walks of life.  Can we, as people of integrity and passionate concern for humankind, allow ourselves to become cynical and passive?  The Gospels respond with a resounding NO!  The truth of the matter can be found in almost every Gospel reading throughout the calendar year.  Let’s take inventory of the ways we can and must become more aware and active on the political scene.

    Voting is only the first step on the long list of our duties as Christians.  This task alone is monumental because we know that no one candidate fulfills all the criteria for the good conscience of a Christian who is serious about his/her beliefs.  One many support anti-abortion laws while another may support the values of peace and justice for the working population.  When considering a candidate for election we must take all the Christian teachings into consideration, not only one or two. 

    The Church tells us that “the lay faithful are never to relinquish their participation in “public life,” that is, in the many different economic, social, legislative, administrative, and cultural areas which are intended to promote organically and institutionally the common good.” This is a tall order.  The above implies that we must stay abreast of the political scene in our towns, states and country.  We must make is a point to read or at least listen to the news in order to find out what is happening in our government.  We cannot allow ourselves to become jaded.  The is extremely difficult when we consider all that is happening in our world.  We often become overwhelmed and become tempted to cop out of the whole political scene.

    Lastly, we must realize that we, as Christians are responsible for the following in our country and throughout the world.  The notions of peace, justice, solidarity with the poor and marginalized,  freedom, equality for all, respect for human life as well as for the environment.  The Gospel message tells us that all of the above are mandatory.  If we have been lax in our civic duties it is time that we recommit ourselves to the Gospel.