Does The Government Oppose Christianity?

I've been noticing lately a fairly sharp increase in the number of politicians that are taking cheap potshots at the Church. A few days ago it was John Kerry, now it comes out that one of Gray Davis' aides has chastised a bishop for reminding Davis of his religious teachings. This is getting to be too much.

Bishop Weigand is justified, even required by his position, to remind Davis of the teachings of the Catholic Church. As a citizen of the United States he has every right to participate in the political process regardless of his position. In the political process his voice carries as much weight as a homeless man in Oakland - which is exactly as much as Davis himself assigns it.

The Bishop has no explicit authority over Davis. It is entirely Gray's choice as to whether or not he remains a practicing member of the Catholic Church.

The Bishop cannot force Davis to change his stand on abortion. He can only end the Church's relationship with Davis. At that point (or any point for that matter) Davis is free to find another, more liberal Church or to renounce his faith.

By the same token, Davis cannot force the Church to change its view on abortion. He can, however, also end his relationship with the Church. Losing a high profile member such as Davis certainly cannot be good for the public image of the Church, especially if the split is contentious and public.

So, if both parties are essentially free to choose this relationship, why are the politicians throwing such a fit all of the sudden about the Church actually doing what they said they would?

Probably because many of the politicians don't really care about their faith any more. They subscribe to a particular faith simply because their parents were of that faith or they think that there might be some votes from joining.

They cloak themselves in religion, but they don't actually care about the moral teachings that the religion provides. As such, when a religious leader reminds them that faith actually involves paying regards to moral and ethical guidelines they throw a fit about "separation of church and state." Religion is a club they join, not a faith they practice.

The rules and moral teachings of faith are a hindrance to their unfettered hedonism. Morals mean giving up some of the pleasures of the flesh. Ethics mean giving up some of the evils of the mind. In either case, it's not anywhere as much fun.

It seems like lately the Church, in particular the Catholic Church, has been taking a more proactive stance on reminding their parishioners of the moral teachings of Christ. And they're doing it publicly: Daschle has already been excommunicated, Kerry was publicly chastised, and now Davis. If there is one thing politicians hate, it's being publicly called out on their hypocrisy.

I think perhaps we'll be seeing more of these types of articles as we go on. And that's a good thing. The Church shouldn't be an integral part of the State, but they should remind the "faithful" of their responsibilities as people of religion.

The Church has every right to participate in the political process. It's good to see them finally doing so again.