Christians and Politics

Joshnyams · #1 Jul 4, '10, 6:14 am

Is it really good for us Christians to participate in politics?

Remember that when Jesus was on this earth he never engaged himself in politics. This is seen when the Pharisees and Herodians approached him and asked him a question if it is lawful to pay taxes to the emperor.

Quote:

Mark 12:17 Jesus said to them, ‘Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ And they were utterly amazed at him.

Willy Jose · #2 Jul 4, '10, 7:07 am

I. A constant teaching

1. The commitment of Christians in the world has found a variety of expressions in the course of the past 2000 years. One such expression has been Christian involvement in political life: Christians, as one Early Church writer stated, «play their full role as citizens».[1] Among the saints, the Church venerates many men and women who served God through their generous commitment to politics and government. Among these, Saint Thomas More, who was proclaimed Patron of Statesmen and Politicians, gave witness by his martyrdom to «the inalienable dignity of the human conscience».[2] Though subjected to various forms of psychological pressure, Saint Thomas More refused to compromise, never forsaking the «constant fidelity to legitimate authority and institutions» which distinguished him; he taught by his life and his death that «man cannot be separated from God, nor politics from morality».[3]

That is the opening paragraph from
DOCTRINAL NOTE on some questions regarding The Participation of Catholics in Political Life
issued in 2002 by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith whose prefect was then Cardinal Ratzinger. Appears to be most relevant to the question. The entire document is
posted here
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/co...litica_en.html

InLight247 · #3 Jul 4, '10, 8:29 am

Politics is the public affair. Living as a citizen of a nation, public affair is our affair, especially in a democratic society. If the evil is going on and the majority exclude themselves from politics, there is an omission of duty; in other words, there are things we fail to do.

As an US citizen, with multiple immoral issues popping up every day, with overwhelming immoral legislations being passed right and left, if we remain indifferent, this great nation is bound to fall, and whose responsibility is that?

We need to pay attention to the current event, do all we can to stop the evil and pray rosary against the wrong doings everyday. Our bishops of the State periodically issue online news letters asking the faithful to petition against various immoral bills the current government is forming. As a faithful, I always follow the bishops’ lead.