On religion and politics

Elected officials need to keep their religious commitments to themselves.

Those holding public office, who are tempted to use their religious commitments as political tools, ought to have the good sense to can it! This is particularly true of candidates who wear their religion on their foreheads so all can see. This time around Michelle Bachman and Rick Perry fail the decency test. Once they retire, however, we have a right to know what they deeply believe.

Mark Hatfield, a Senator from Oregon for thirty years, died just a few weeks ago. He was one of the last old style Republicans who was against the militarization of the nation as well as being an advocate for the poor, the left out and the discriminated against. When asked, after his retirement, where his social ethic came from, here is what he said.

“Radical allegiance to Jesus Christ transforms one’s entire perspective on political reality. Priorities become totally changed; a whole new understanding of what is truly important bursts forth. There is an uncompromising identification with the needs of the poor and oppressed. One is placed in fundamental opposition to structures of injustice and forms of national idolatry. Further there is a commitment to the power of love as the only means to the end.”

While others may arrive at similar position on national ethics by very different paths, for Hatfield, and a sizeable number of others, what they have found in the ethic of Jesus is their polar star.

As in, the polar opposite of Hatfield's polar star.