WE have to be more conscious of this duty, especially at these times. Certain developments, sadly led by some reckless Church leaders, are distorting, even perverting, the Church’s sense of power, authority and purpose.
The Church, of course is a great mystery. No one can dare to say he has the
full understanding of it. Yet Christ, its founder, through his words and actions, through his life and death, has left us with a good idea of what it is and how it should be.
It’s part of divine revelation entrusted to all of us in the Church, both pastors and lay faithful, each with their proper roles. It’s a revelation that is now amply articulated in many Church documents like the constitutions “Lumen gentium” and “Gaudium et spes.”
And yet, it seems all these are ignored. The indication, for example, for the clergy and the hierarchy to stay out of politics is quite clearly spelled out already, together with their reasons.
It’s an indication that surely is based on the life and example of our Lord Jesus Christ who, in spite of many irregularities of the political environment of his time, did not get entangled with politics. He did not allow himself to get distracted.
He once said, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and
to God the things that are God’s” (Mt 22,21), defining the distinction and relationship between the eternal and temporal realities, the spiritual and material things that govern our lives here on earth.
In my view, it’s also an indication that needed to be clearly spelled out after a long, painful and ugly Church history that saw the mess created when the clergy—from popes down—got enmeshed in worldly affairs.
Imagine, popes who acted also like kings with armies and wealth, who entered into wars and engaged in really dirty politics, and of course who committed all sorts of crimes!
That was the period of Caesaropapism and clericalism, a confusion of spiritual and temporal powers that contradict the gospel message.
Recent actuations and statements of some bishops indicate there’s a trend to return to this ugly mentality and culture of the Church in the past. Things may not be that clear yet, but the symptoms are already there.
Their justifications vary from the funny to the absurd. That they are just acting as one more ordinary citizen is ridiculous, given the fact that they simply would not be given the attention they enjoy now from the media and the public if they were not bishops.
That they are simply voicing out what seems to them as the right thing to do, or even the moral option for people to take, is even more ridiculous. Are they suggesting that those who have a different view are taking the wrong road or the immoral option?
They may not realize it, but the actuations and statements they have just done make them appear more of a temporal power than a spiritual authority. This is a disturbing development.
Because of their position in the Church, bishops need to be truly prudent in their actuations and statements on politics. It’s a certain sensitivity that guides them to distinguish between what they ought to do especially with respect to politics, which they also have to evangelize, and what is already engaging in partisan politics.
That’s why the Church’s social doctrine has articulated clear guidelines about how this prudence in politics on the part of the hierarchy should be lived and developed. These teachings should be studied thoroughly.
Bishops have a very important role to play in Christianizing politics. It’s not a matter of coming up with concrete political positions. It’s more of creating the proper atmosphere for a free and responsible discussion of issues. It’s more of facilitating substantive and fruitful dialogues among all the parties involved, reminding everyone of the requirements of the common good.
Their role is also to remind everyone of the need we have of the spiritual and supernatural means in our efforts to live out our political life. These can never be neglected. And the hierarchy is the proper authority to make this reminder.
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