In a free democracy every citizen has a right to run for election and be
involved politically. So a priest being a citizen enjoys that right. However, I
have the following questions/reservations:
1. If a priest becomes a president or a prime minister, or assumes a position
of power in a government, whom does he owe his primary allegiance? To the
secular constitution of his country or to his religious text and authority?
2. What does he do when a secular legislation passed by the majority of elected
representatives goes against his religious dictates and dogmas? Veto it, or
sign it under the threat of excommunication?
3. Can a priest have a political agenda that goes against the precepts of his
religion and the commands of his ecclesiastical authority?
4. Should a religious institution that actively participates in politics enjoy
tax exempt status?
5. Should religious institutions form political parties based on religion, and
merge their religious agendas with their political platforms? For example, can
priests launch combined political campaigns to convert people to their own
religion and political ideology, while electing them to positions of power?
There are many other such difficult questions that come to mind.
Cheers,
Santosh
----- Original Message -----
From: basilio Monteiro <basilio.monte...@gmail.com>
Should the Church and the Priests Dabble in Politics?
YES. Why? Let us examine briefly what is the role of the Church and
the priests in society.
What is Church? Or better: Who is the Church? What is religion?
By and large people have some funny and fuzzy notions of what the
Church is, and its role in society.
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