The Gospels On Money, Morality & Politics
Editor writes…
Our Lord spoke about money on a few occasions but the key quote for the purposes of this debate is, arguably, Christ’s reminder that we cannot serve two masters: “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Luke 16:13)
By “mammon” is meant money as an idol – if we love anything more than we should, in the right order of things, we make an idol of that thing.
It seems that in the world of politics, the temptation is sometimes irresistible to make an idol of the goods of this world, including money. Is this inevitable? And what about the self-proclaimed Christians in politics – do they stand out from the rest in terms of the Gospel exhortation to put God first?
Important Note…
Although this thread is led by the above video conversation about the SNP scandal dominating the news in Scotland at this time, we are well warned to be very careful about what we say in public on the matter, so I would urge bloggers to avoid drawing any inference(s) from the arrests/questioning of particular individuals by the police as they investigate allegations against the SNP in terms of its finances/funding. This should come naturally to us as Catholics, anyway, due to the demands of charity, but please be aware that the law in Scotland is much stricter in this regard than the law south of the border. There is a very tight rein in Scotland on what can be said in public about someone who has been arrested/held in custody/under police investigation. So, please be careful to stick to facts and – especially – to enlightening us all on the way the Gospels should direct our lives at personal, political and national level. Perhaps we should resolve to more openly question those politicians who claim to be Christian when voting time comes around.
A key question, then, has to be, is there anything to learn from the teaching of Christ which would encourage honesty in the political class?
And as an aside, it might be interesting to reflect on the possibility – real or imagined – that the SNP dream of Scottish independence is now over.
Your thoughts…
Comments (24)
Today, there’s been a big push to re-run the leadership election which I think Kate Forbes would win hands down, then we could find out if her claims to be a Christian will stand up to scrutiny. It would be very interesting to see how she would behave in power.
Comment deleted – totally off topic. Try telling the blog administrator at any other blog that we have better things to discuss than what he has chosen. Sheer nerve.
I don’t actually think Kate Forbes would stand the test – she was quite weak when interviewed about her “views” on moral issues and became almost apologetic.
What is noticeable, though, is that the Scottish Bishops have remained silent on this, not commenting at all, even within the constraints we have in Scotland, legally, instead of taking the opportunity with both hands, to point out that it is important for politicians to resist any possible temptation to corruption, quoting the Gospel in public as that would show that the Church really does have a role to play in public life, right on message just when it’s needed.
I agree about Kate Forbes – she was too keen to stress that the gospel wouldn’t be put into practice if she gets the leadership, LOL! I can’t see that changing now. Having said that, it’s nothing personal, she’s a very pleasant young women, but not sure about competent. Wasn’t she in a position dealing with finance and the economy in the SNP government for a while?
Laura,
I think you are spot on. Kate Forbes went out of her way to say that whilst she wouldn’t have an abortion she would defend “to the hilt” the right to abortion.
Petrus,
Are you absolutely sure she said that? I didn’t hear that at all. I know she stressed that she wouldn’t impose her views on anyone but that’s different from saying she thinks everyone has a “right” to abortion and she would defend that “right” to the hilt. I’m shocked at that.
This is a good summary / timeline of the events for those in England who might not know much about this – it’s headlined about who is at the centre of this investigation but what I’d like to know is who lodged the complaint which started it in the first place.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/who-is-at-the-centre-of-the-police-investigation-into-the-snp/ar-AA1a4nat?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=97249b0a5263434195baa5ef331f7674&ei=13
I’d also like to suggest that we pray for Scotland right now – everyone is agreed that we are at a crossroads so it would be great if things were turned around and we had some changes that would help restore our country to its Catholic roots.
Fidelis,
I like the idea of praying for Scotland right now, in a special way. I’m just thinking producing an appropriate prayer would be something the bishops could do, a practical thing that would show that the Church does have a role to play in politics, without becoming involved in party policies. It would show they want to be about truth and justice. That would impress everyone, IMHO.
This is a short interview with a man from the Alba Party, another independence Party. He thinks independence is not dead. He also says he doesn’t support the gender reform bill in it’s present form, so he’s not agin it, altogether.
I saw that interview earlier – that young man came across as a bit cocky at one point, but OK in the end. He wants to emphasise that the SNP going out of business doesn’t mean an end to the independence movement. That will go on under Alex Salmond’s Alba Party.
Nigel Farage has this to say about Nicola Sturgeon – the strongest words I’ve read yet from anyone about her.
“I’ve got to tell you, the times I’ve done debates with Nicola Sturgeon, been face to face with Nicola Sturgeon and walked past Nicola Sturgeon in corridors, I don’t think I’ve met anyone in politics, anywhere in the world, who is so deeply arrogant and unpleasant as Nicola Sturgeon.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/nigel-farage-lashes-out-at-deeply-unpleasant-nicola-sturgeon-as-snp-prepares-for-ex-leader-s-arrest/ar-AA1a78gW?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=9faafd7e484d47b99a5634902b4b8d42&ei=12
Nicola is an atheist, as I think we all know, so maybe there is something “in the waters” of Christian faith that soften the character a bit – it’s definitely obvious that there is no real “softness” in Nicola’ character, although maybe I’m being uncharitable saying this.
I think the suggestion of the bishops producing a special prayer for the country at this time is a really good one, it could be addressed to all the saints of Scotland to ask for their intercession. The doctrine of the Communion of Saints is one of my personal favourites.
“Nicola is an atheist, as I think we all know” Do we all know? How do we know? Where do you get this bit of information from, as Nicola Sturgeon has never claimed to be an atheist. She has said that one of her favourite places is the church in which she was baptised and that it has always been very dear to her. . She has also said that she believes that the Church still has an important part to play in the life of the nation.
Her background is Christian and she was married in a Protestant church but she refuses to discuss whether she is Christian or not which is hardly the sign of a true believer, LOL! Then there is the small matters of her wholehearted support for abortion and gay rights, transgenderism/Gender Reform Bill, and of her “affirmation” which she chose over taking the oath (before God) at the Scottish Parliament Inquiry a while back there. Alex Salmond took the oath. So, all in all, her actions make it clear that she’s not a Christian. To me, she’s obviously an atheist. I’m not sure if she’s said as much but she certainly isn’t living as someone who is God-fearing, is she?
Lily,
Isn’t it shocking? Here’s the direct quote:
“I couldn’t conceive of having an abortion myself. I’ve seen my baby at 12 weeks and 20 weeks but yes, I defend the right of women to make use of that legal provision to access abortion.”
https://www.thenational.scot/news/23338379.kate-forbes-says-defend-abortion-rights-despite-personal-beliefs/
Petrus,
I really am shocked at that. I had heard her duck and dive over her “views” but it’s incredible that she said that about abortion after saying she’d seen her own baby in the womb. Doesn’t she realise how dishonest and sleazy that makes her seem? She knows something so serious is wrong but she’s OK with allowing it, as long as she gets the top job? So, really it doesn’t matter who is in power, if they’re OK with murdering babies in the womb, they will have no trouble with any other kind of corruption, IMO.
Lily,
I know exactly what you mean. Imagine defending the right to an abortion and still claiming to be anti-abortion. It’s double-speak!
I remember once discussing this with a colleague and she said the same thing: personally she would never have one but she believed women had the right to choose. She then demanded that I “respect her views”. Of course I told her that I could never respect her views on this matter.
Is that how these people ease their conscience? It’s a strange way of thinking. The devil is so cunning and will find a way to get into the soul. If he is given an inch he will take a mile!
Petrus/Lily,
Watching Kate Forbes, as the “Christian” hopeful and thus supposedly best of the bunch during the leadership contest, I couldn’t help thinking about the difference it would make if we were still a truly Catholic country.
Then today, clearing out papers, I came across an extract (or ten!) from Immortale Dei, On the Christian Constitution of States and this thread sprang to mind…
Pope Leo XIII writes…
“It is not difficult to determine what would be the form and character of the State were it governed according to the principles of Christian philosophy. Man’s natural instinct moves him to live in civil society, for he cannot, if dwelling apart, provide himself with the necessary requirements of life, nor procure the means of developing his mental and moral faculties. Hence, it is divinely ordained that he should lead his life – be it family or civil – with his fellow men… [But] every body politic must have a ruling authority [which] has its source in nature and has, consequently, God for its Author. Hence it follows that all public power must proceed from God. For God alone is the true and supreme Lord of the world. Everything, without exception, must be subject to Him, and must serve Him… There is no power but from God.”
https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_01111885_immortale-dei.html
It strikes me, reflecting on the truths contained in the above encyclical, that atheists are very much at sea, with our already limited human thinking ability even more curtailed and corrupted due to their refusal to embrace the Faith, and place God and His Laws at the centre of their thinking. Is this, perhaps, why we are hearing of so many scandals or potential scandals (such as the SNP situation) involving politicians who are either proclaimed atheists or Christians of the “inverted commas” type? That is, Christians/Catholics in name only?
As you point out ED fingers cannot really be pointed until Charges and Real Corruption is found to be Truthful. Not that I have any Love for the Sturgeons. But we now live in a Time when Your Guilty until Proven Innocent instead of course the other way around. This was none more so than the Horrible Nancy Pelosis quote about President Trump.
” He has to prove his innocence ” was what She said. Instead of saying that the Bent Prosecutor would have to prove Him Guilty. As for the Main Point of God and Money. We see corruption now on such a Grand Scale and the Bigger the Corruption the more their untouchable and we all know especially in the West who the worst ones are .
I just watched an internet Video about the next Plandemic with Fauci and Gates. Personally I got to a Minute in before I was Sick.
Which is a record really for me listening to those two.
As for the S.N.P. personally their downfall couldn’t happen to a better Mob. My only other hope is that the Greens and we Patrick follow them on their downward spiral.
I’m still laughing at the Dan Wootton interview at the top of the page – Austin Sheridan is a true Sturgeon loyalist, he’ll be supporting her come what may.
I admire FOOF for his “innocent till proven guilty” comment – that’s how it should be, although it’s quite hard to do that in this case, partly because the SNP leadership have always been so quick to take advantage of the other parties when the chance comes along. If they’d applied Jesus’s Golden Rule of treating others as you would like to be treated yourself in those cases, they might be getting more sympathy right now themselves.
N O T I C E . . .
The Scottish Bishops welcome new nuncio…
https://scmo.org/news-releases/perma/1682075760/article/conference-president-welcomes-new-nuncio.html
I’ve just stumbled across this – someone has dubbed over the original dialogue with comic effect…
LOL! That’s really funny! I saw the original interview – or should that be interviews, he was being called at from all sides! So, that is great fun!
Petrus has asked me to re-post his comment about Kate Forbes, accidentally posted on the wrong thread. I’ll remove it from wrong thread now…
FROM PETRUS…
Kate Forbes would have been about as Christian as the Dalai Lama had she been elected First Minister. This “personal belief” nonsense doesn’t fool me. An act is either inherently wrong/manifestly evil, neutral or morally good.
The internet is morally neutral. It can be used well, for finding out information, defending the Faith etc, or it can be used for evil purposes (which I don’t need to list). We can have a “personal beliefs” regarding the internet. So, it would be perfectly fine for Forbes to say, “my personal belief is that the internet is wrong, but I will defend your right to use it.”
Abortion, however, is inherently evil. Those who believe otherwise are supporting, or cooperating with, evil. One cannot believe it to be wrong, whilst defending the right of others to have an abortion. This is at best a sin of omission and, since this is the potential First Minister of Scotland, quite likely cooperating in someone else’s sin.
I totally agree with Petrus on this. I know people don’t like using Hitler etc as an example but just imagine if someone in Germany had said they didn’t like his policy on the treatment of Jews but they wouldn’t want to impose their views on everyone else! It’s a ridiculous argument. If something is as evil as killing unborn babies then they cannot possibly tolerate it when they have the chance to educate people about the reality of it with a view to ending it. She’s just another weak character and so God was not IN her campaign.