Should clerics interfere in politics?

I'm inclined to agree about a declaration supporting any particular candidate or political party. But they have every right to speak on any single issue. In the same way that nurses' leaders, for example, have a right to speak on issues which concern them, or the leaders of the CBI to speak on economic matters or the representatives of charities to speak on issues of concern. It becomes dangerously like censorship to declare that someone has no right to speak out on issues of concern.

If they agree with me they should speak out; if they don't they should keep their mouths shut.

It is indisputable that clerics, like everyone else, are entitled to have political opinions. However, I think it is almost always inappropriate for them to use their role as a cleric and as figure of authority within their religion to promulgate their opinions. There are occasions – Desmond Tutu's stand against apartheid, for example – when it is anything but inappropriate. Consequently, I do not think that they should be censored by others but I do think that they should show some wisdom and discretion.

What Annodomini said.

Spot on nanaej.

Romney sounds more right wing than Bush and with his god on his side if he gets in things could get really scary.

A priest is a very powerful man within his parish and a Cardinal is even more powerful. Catholics look to them for leadership and guidance so they have to be careful what they say. By coming out against Obama he has overstepped the mark but the damage is done. A lot of Catholics will vote the way they think the Church wants them to.

No they won't.

A cardinal is not the church. The church is the worshipping community. And its members do have minds. Most will have no idea at all what this plonker has said, some will listen and ignore, and a few, who would have supported the
the Republicans anyway, will vote for Romney. But by and large the catholic community in the USA, such as it is, is Democrat.

Have you spent much time with Catholics, MiceElf? You may be fortunate and know Catholics who are able to make their own decisions but the ones I know are very swayed by what the Church says.

I think the church lost a lot of its authority with the cover-up of child abuse. Apparently most catholics use some artificial method of birth control, so they are ignoring that rule.

www.patheos.com/blogs/catholicnews/2012/08/former-vatican-diplomat-predicts-catholic-swing-toward-gop/

This is written by a guy who should be in the know.

Yes, my knowledge of the Catholic church is extensive. And clearly very different from your experience.

Greatnan is right, there have been dreadful cover ups which everyone knows about and there is no excuse for any of it. The consequence has had one good outcome, however, and that is that many Catholics, in Ireland in particular, do not accept the Authority of the church in the shape of the hierarchy in the way in which they used to. The primacy of the individual conscience has always been a doctrine of the church. These days that doctrine is assuming its rightful place.

This man you provide a link to, is an apologist for the Republicans. Of course he will put his own slant on things. He's 'hoping' he's asserting, but he doesn't know.

The sad thing is that many Catholics and many others won't vote at all. It's the same here. But, partly for historical reasons, partly because the Catholic population is more working class and partly because the policies of Obama chime with the ideal of social justice, the catholic population who vote in the forthcoming elections in the USA are far more likely to be Democrat.

Which way would Jesus have voted?

For me of course.

That's O.K. then - I know you are on the right side.

MiceElf CSL - great

This is from the Los Angeles Times:

[Quote] To be fair, Dolan expressed a willingness to offer a prayer at the Democratic convention as well. He insists that his participation in the Republican proceedings is not a partisan gesture. The cardinal's spokesman said that, before accepting, Dolan told convention organizers that it was standard church practice for the local bishop of the area to offer a blessing. [Quote.]

As I said before, things are different over there. It is really not like the Archbishop of Canterbury blessing the Conservative party conference, or the head of the Roman Catholic Church endorsing the Labour Party conference.