CHURCH IN POLITICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25814, 9 April 1945, Page 7

CHURCH IN POLITICS

ACTIVE ROLE ADVOCATED

“ Can the Church claim to speak with authority upon economic and social reforms? ” is one of the questions to which an answer is attempted by the Rev. R. T. Brooks in the latest addition to the Forward Book Series. “We must abolish one hallowed phrase constantly used in answer to questions about whether the Church should concern itself in politics.” writes Mr Brooks. “It is generally pronounced with the air of one drawing a subtle and important distinction:

‘ Politics, yes; but not party politics.’ What it usually means when applied in practice is: ‘Pious talk, yes; but not effective action.’ By it churchmen are absolved from the tiresome necessity of suggesting ways and means of achieving the high-minded objectives they define.

“After an interesting session of discussion in which they formulate lofty principles (to be applied by someone alse) and distant goals (to be reached by roads which others must find) they must shut up shop and go home, or else they will be venturing into the fields of party politics. But actual improvements in the structure of society are carried out by people who have banded themselves together 'for the purpose of carrying them out—that is, by political parties. “As soon as our Christian judgments on social issues begin to take shape we must put our weight behind some political organisation which is willing to light for the cause we have commended.”