Should Catholics meddle in Politics?
QUESTION?
It is not true that Catholics should not meddle in politics?
ANSWER!
Pope Francis said: "‘A good Catholic doesn’t meddle in politics.’ That’s not true. That is not a good path. A good Catholic meddles in politics, offering the best of himself, so that those who govern can govern.”
In his daily homily of September 16, 2013 Pope Francis reminded Catholics that we cannot be indifferent to politics or simply sit back and blame politicians for all our problems. "None of us can say, I have nothing to do with this, they govern. No, no, I am responsible for their governance, and I have to do the best so that they govern well, and I have to do my best by participating in politics according to my ability. Politics, according to the Social Doctrine of the Church, is one of the highest forms of charity, because it serves the common good. I cannot wash my hands, eh? We all have to give something!"
On May 21st, 2010 - Pope Benedict XVI said it is the duty of the laity to participate “actively in political life”. He was speaking to the Pontifical Council for the Laity in Rome. The Pope told them that it is up to the lay faithful to show in their family life, their social life and in their political life that the “faith enables them to read reality….. and to transform it”. He asserted that charity in truth is the most effective force that is capable of changing the world.
The Holy Father went on to say why the involvement must be in a manner coherent with the teaching of the Church. He explained that the “spread of a confused cultural relativism and a utilitarian and hedonistic individualism weakens democracy and favors the dominance of strong powers”. Consequently, Catholics must actively bear witness to Christ and the Gospel in the civil and political community “animated by the certainty that Christ is the cornerstone of every human structure”
The Function of Government according to the Bible: God has ordained a structure, we are called to submit to Government and honor or leaders (Rom 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:13-17; John 19:7-11). It doesn’t mean that every person is God ordained. We pray for those governmental leaders over us (1 Tim 2:1-2). The Government is meant to punish evil doers and reward those who do right (1 Peter 2:14; Roman 13:2-3). Government is meant to bring stability to the land by adhering to justice (Proverbs 29:4) especially through the court system (Acts 25:11). Government also has to the ability to inpose taxes for the common good (Matthew 22:17-21). They also have the ability to appoint their borders and boundaries (Acts 17:26).
Throughout American history, church leaders have spoken out on the vital moral issues of the day - whether it be slavery, civil rights, or in defense of the family and the dignity of human life. One of the enduring lessons the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. taught is the power a religious community can have in society. Reverend King said, "The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state. If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority." When the church loses its voice, the country loses its conscience.
Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist Christian minister, led the movement to persuade government to impose a particular belief on America that all men are equal in the eyes of God. It was a movement that found its deepest conviction in Christianity.
If you’ve ever heard someone say “Christians should stay neutral on political issues”…or “God doesn’t care about political issues”…or “Evangelism only matters in eternity – it doesn’t change how a person votes” – you have been targeted by deception…subtle delusions designed to shut down your influence on the direction of American life. The goal of the enemy: to mute Christians by eliminating your viewpoint from the national discourse…to censor the biblical worldview from our culture. We will not be silent, we will continue to preach the Gospel boldly, come what may.
"If by interference in politics is meant judging or condemning a philosophy of life which makes the party, or the state, or the class, or the race the source of all rights, and which usurps the soul and enthrones party over conscience and denies those basic rights for which this war was fought, the answer is emphatically Yes! The Church does judge such a philosophy. But when it does this, it is not interfering with politics, for such politics is no longer politics but Theology. When a State sets itself up as absolute as God, when it claims sovereignty over the soul, when it destroys freedom of conscience and freedom of religion, then the State has ceased to be political and has begun to be a counter - Church" (Bishop Fulton Sheen, Characters of the Passion).
George Washington-“It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible."
George Washington stated, “Do not let anyone claim to be a true American who attempts to remove religion from politics.” Politics is just the caboose, the engine is Objective Truth which is based on Religion.
Jesus was Involved In Politics, watch this video - https://www.afa.net/the-stand/culture/2017/10/jesus-is-involved-in-polit...
God Bless You,
JR <><