It has often been said, even by Prime Ministers, that religious leaders should confine themselves to religion and not meddle in politics, but what does that really mean?
Politics can be very divisive of families, communities and countries. The same was true in Jesus time. The Pharisees tried to exploit this to discredit Jesus and thereby weaken his influence on people. In the gospel story he was in a no win situation. If he supported the paying of taxes; he was a collaborator with the hated Romans and their idolatrous rule. On the other hand, if he supported withholding of taxes he was a revolutionary who could then be easily denounced to the Romans.
Jesus chose a third way, which was not proposed by the Pharisees and similarly often not proposed by those who seek answers to political conundrums from Church Leaders. The new way Jesus shows is to teach the principles and then allow people to make their own decisions from that point onwards. Jesus did not tell people what to do, but he pointed out moral principles and the consequences of their actions. The role of the church is the same.
Render unto Caesar. So what belongs to God? Simply put: everything. I cannot stand here and teach about what the Christian response to the ethical, moral and spiritual challenges of society are without wishing to influence your response when you leave this church. I want us all to be a positive force in society, building and guarding the rights of all people. If you wish me to influence you on these matters within these walls, and then become someone else when you leave, a grand schizophrenia is at work. If religious leaders did not inform politics of Australia, education, health care, social welfare and all forms of social justice would not have any prominence in our society. Currently, the rights of refugees, the family, the old and vulnerable whose lives are under threat from euthanasia and the unborn are being championed by the leaders of Christian church. This is role and calling of leaders of the Christian faith.
Most of us voted today or during the last week. We all have a calling in the political life of this country, to shape her future and safeguard her people. To do this we need to engage in the public square openly as Christians. It is my calling as a priest theologian to guide this parish towards the correct incorporation of Catholic teaching into our daily lives. If I don’t do this I am negligent, staying ‘out of politics’, therefore, is not an option for any of us. I am not saying that the priest as teacher always gets it right. However, if the principles of Christian ethics and the natural law are followed there is a much better chance of a just society emerging.
The price of ignoring our political responsibilities are significant. An extreme example is that of Martin Niemöller (1892-1984) a prominent Protestant pastor who eventually emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last 7 years of Nazi rule in concentration camps. He wrote: First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out -- Because I was not a Socialist Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out -- Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out -- Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the Catholic activists, and I was protestant. Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me.
We need reflection, challenge and reform. We need to be open to listen to the views of others and then make up our mind, not based on moral principles, not on feelings or sympathies.
Homily, 16th Octiber 2011, 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
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