Church & Politics
mkohn said:
I think the Church has no place in politics, and never has. I agree 100% about the slogan 'follow the money.' It works for almost every motivation known by man.
As far as the Catholic Church in the DR and the rest of the world, it should be a shining example of perfection in thought, word and deed.
The church pays no taxes. And maybe should stick to educating the population, so the people are informed enough to think for themselves.
Teach me not what to think, but how to think.
mk
:cheeky:
do no harm - a brilliant concept
I think we're all forgetting something here!
History shows us that the underlying elements of government have their root in the major religious force of the populations of nations. While there may SEEM to be a seperation of "Church" and "State" there is in reality a reinforcement of the morality promulgated by the religious factions.
Look at the reasons given by the South African Government for continuing aparthied; at the original persicution of the early Christians by the Romans; at the continuous pograms in Europe of those of the Hebrew faith; at the world of Islam in their treatment (albeit against the stated precepts of that faith) of those of the Hebrew and the Christian faiths.
The Roman Catholic Church is one of the most powerful religious organizations in the world is a recognized fact. The Pope is viewed as infallible in matters of biblical interpretation by the Church's membership, and thus his representatives (the Cardinals, the Bishops and the Priesthood) fall under his umbrella of influence in such matters.
We can all agree that as such, their comments and representations of morality are not taken lightly by TRUE members of the faith; thus, the Church weilds a great deal of power over it's constituency.
As to seperation of Church and State in Spanish speaking countries, I submit that there isn't a great deal of seperation evident. The Church will always speak out (as it has done in the past) when governments are too harsh with their citizens and/or are tending to violate human rights too much.
I think that we have a rather strong contingent of opposition in the existing Church heirarchy in the DR and that they will continue to speak out against corrupt politicians in the future.
BTW, I' neither fish nor foul as regards religious matters. I belong to no religious organizations, having divorced myself from fantasy long ago.
Texas Bill