Can a Catholic Bishop be part of a government body or participate in politics? In times past Cardinals and Bishops were often the major political figures of a country, and there were seats for them specifically in councils.
I wonder if today if there is anywhere where they hold a traditional honored seat in a legislature or political body? Or if the case arose are they allowed to hypothetically?
2007-08-19 04:57:31 · 8 answers · asked by advait0 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I am not Catholic, and really could have done without the criticism comments or Protestant-sided preaching, I am neither Catholic nor Protestant. It was a question out of historical interest.
2007-08-19 06:31:45 · update #1
No....Father Robert F. Drinan, a Jesuit priest, was asked by the Vatican to leave politics -- at least as far as an elected position is concerned. He was a Senator.
ALL of us have the responsibility to speak up on behalf of the poor, the downtrodden, the forgotten and the marginalized. Its called Social Justice. For my part, I choose to reach out by teaching Special Education in a public school system and fighting for their particualr needs, making sure that the laws and rights pertaining to them do not fall by the wayside.
FYI....there are now 5 justices on the Supreme Court who are Catholics....quite impressive indeed. Impressive considering that a couple of hundred years ago they could not own homes in this country. Check this site to see what your Protestant textbooks do not want you to know! http://www.geocities.com/adam_todm/USCatholic_History.htm
Catholic priests may indeed serve as chaplains in either the Senate or House of Representatives.
Mitt Romney has been meeting with Catholic Church leaders in order to gain more appeal in his running for President. I have no doubt for a minute that that is why he has turned from pro-Choice to pro-Life. Since Massachusetts is by and large a Catholic state, he'd be foolish not to pay attention to such a large voting bloc. In the end it's all about the dignity of those who cannot speak for themselves....including the unborn. The duty to help their voices to be heard belongs, therefore, to all of us.
2007-08-19 06:26:28 · answer #1 · answered by The Carmelite 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes and no.
The Church looks to protect human dignity and human rights and does not for look for political power. Church leaders are barred from political office by Church law (not civil law).
The Church is primarily a spiritual body. But she is also a moral teacher.
If people are going to make moral issues into political ones then they should not complain when citizens in the Church uses their freedoms of speech and religion.
When you look at the 1.1 billion believers worshiping in over 200,000 parishes worldwide you can see that the Catholic Church is a spiritual entity.
However the Church is also a moral teacher and has been teaching the world what it believes God thinks is right and wrong for almost 2,000 years.
Jesus said, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:18-20)
The Catholic Church has been teaching world governments what it believes is right and wrong since the ancient Romans stopped persecuting it and long before anyone heard of the freedom of speech.
The Catholic Church protested about the blood sports in the Roman Colosseum and they were stopped.
The Catholic Church supported the Polish Solidarity movement and the Soviet Union fell apart.
I don't think the Church is going to (or should) stop teaching the world governments what is right or wrong now.
Remember the Catholic Church proposes. It does not impose.
With love in Christ.
2007-08-19 21:13:45 · answer #2 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Church frowns upon it's clergymen running for political office.
Even if the Church didn't have a problem with it, clergymen are busy enough with their responsibilities as they pertain to the Church. It is highly unlikely there would be any with enough free time, money, and political support to even run for office, much less win the race.
Having said that, there is nothing wrong with clergymen helping influence the political process by promoting policy that is in line with Church teachings, and speaking out against policy that is not in sync with Church teachings.
2007-08-20 11:08:51 · answer #3 · answered by Daver 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hypothetically in the US, if a Bishop were duly elected, he could legally hold office.
Germany still collects a religion tax for the Catholic church, so they probably have some kind of official church minister.
2007-08-19 12:15:43 · answer #4 · answered by wondermus 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Can you figure out what Jesus Christ said? "I am not in this world" or "my kindom is not in this world" or " I have no place to rest or sleep" when he said follow me what he did! just opposite what they do? politics? the true christian is not part of this system because they are friends of this world. sorry to tell about this....I'm sorry
2007-08-19 12:28:37 · answer #5 · answered by alex l 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a Catholic and to be honest I really don't know.
2007-08-19 12:03:51 · answer #6 · answered by Karenita 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah that would be the ultimate nightmare.
A religious dominated government!....puke!
2007-08-19 12:04:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No because they have violated the bodies of young boys!
2007-08-19 12:01:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋