Separation of Church and State???

In recent weeks there has been much ado about Governor Kerry offering a prayer before a political meeting, as well as the place religion has in the public sphere. The Blogosphere proclaims religion as being the root cause of what's wrong in the world today. Message boards remind us that religion should not be speaking on such "political" topics such as abortion, poverty, housing, and hunger. If the religious could just offer a prayer and a bowl of soup everything would be okay.

In our post modern culture we have lost any understanding of communal sensibilities and an appreciation of natural law. Even Greek philosophy maintains a basic set of 'rights' or virtues that are foundational to each human person. Both the Magna Carta and the Constitution of the United States recognize the basic dignities we possess, and the responsibility of the State to maintain a common good. More so, the concepts related to justice and peace, while are fundamentally based in a religious motif, are part of many a culture. Values related to life and human dignity are protected by social mores as well as law.

The scripture that we have been hearing at daily mass reminds us what happens when Sin and Evil become acceptable by institutions and governments. Those who are faithful to higher truths and goods are often dismissed or seen simply as a nuisance.

Today because a politician speaks on a particular topic or advocates a particular agenda, it becomes political. Life and death issues and those pertaining to the value of our relationships are first and foremost moral issues. Perhaps it is not a matter of the Church sticking its nose into the political realm, but the state interfering with religious matter.

But what is really important is that we who are religious, living in a social culture, should see to it that we respect life, care for the poor and anawim, provide safety and security for all men and women, and care for the well being of each other. The Church for its part remains prophetic and vigilant in regards to what is right and good.

Our biggest concern is how we might be able o maintain the image and likeness of the creator in which we have been made.