Church and Politics

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 208, 30 May 1936, Page 20

Church and Politics

"The church has necessarily to concern itself with politics, as it is a mighty influence in the world, but the point to emphasise is that it concerns itself with principles of political action and not with particular party programmes. "A true Christian, considering any political question, goes to the heart of the matter. If yon are agreed about fhe principle but differ in the method of applying it. then politics will be robbed of all bitterness. By this insistence on principle, and persuading Christian people as a whole to form their opinions on religious grounds. I believe religious forces have an immense opportunity of sweetening public life. “It. is sometimes said that religion should be kept, entirely apart from politics. and he an affair of the individual's life only, .but that come.s very near to saying that the greater part of the history of Hie world is something which lies altogether outside the order of Divine Providence. “Active championship of the application of a principle—the championship of a particular programme—should not he indulged in. but. the church does invaluable service if it clarifies the principle involved, placing it fairly against a background of Christian ethics. Such service will be a great influence for good in casting out prejudice and personal interest. It is the church’s duty to uphold Christian justice: but the question of how that is to be achieved must be left to others."—The Archbishop of York.