In the past few weeks there were two interesting documents touching on the involvement of Catholics in politics. The Pope took to task those who are sceptical about politics but then take no responsibility for society's well being.
On the other hand the US bishops published a document in preparation for the 2004 elections in that country and, among other things, addressed the growing feeling that many Catholics are "politically homeless". Both the Pope and the US bishops appealed for more commitment by Catholics in the political life of their countries.
John Paul II, while addressing the participants in a seminar organised by the Robert Schuman Foundation for the Co-operation of European Christian Democrats, said: "The complaints often made against political activity don't justify an attitude of disengaged scepticism on a Catholic's part who has the duty, rather, of taking responsibility for society's well-being."
Pope attacks armchair critics
"It's not enough to call for the building of a just and fraternal society. There is also a need to work in a committed and competent way for the promotion of perennial human values in public life, in accord with the correct methods proper to political activity."
Across the Atlantic, in "Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic Call to Political Responsibility", the Administrative Committee of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops requires that "Catholics in public life have a particular responsibility to bring together consistently their faith, moral principles and public responsibilities".
The document also addressed the growing feeling that many Catholics are "politically homeless" because all parties (Democrat, Republican, Green, Independent, etc.) and most candidates do not adhere to a consistent concern for human life and dignity. Members of one party may be against war or for an increase in the minimum wage, for instance, but support abortion on demand.
Members of another party may be stridently pro-life, but get weak in the knees when pushed to eliminate capital punishment. Aware of this dilemma, the bishops are calling Catholics to become more engaged in the political process, rather than join the apathetic masses retreating from the public square.
Such a commitment means sacrifice. The Pope in his speech quoted Pope Paul VI who said: "Politics is a demanding manner... of living the Christian commitment to the service of others."
To attain this objective, the "Christian must also ensure that the 'salt' of his Christian commitment does not lose its 'flavour' and that the 'light' of his Gospel ideals does not become obscured by pragmatism or even worse by utilitarianism. For this reason he will need to deepen his knowledge of Christian social doctrine, striving to assimilate its principles and to apply it with wisdom where necessary.
"This will assume a serious spiritual formation which is nourished by prayer. A superficial, spiritually lukewarm, or indifferent person, or one excessively concerned with success and popularity, will never be able adequately to exercise his political responsibility," the Pope stressed.
It is interesting that the speech made by the Pope was indirectly honouring one of Europe's most eminent politicians. Schuman was France's Foreign Minister, who died in 1963, the first president of the European Parliament and one of the fathers of the European Union.
Schuman lived his commitment as a Christian politician to the full. His cause of beatification is under way, as is that of Alcide de Gasperi, Italy's Christian Democrat prime minister in the wake of World War II, and Schuman's contemporary.
In Malta we are also lucky in the sense that we had and have politicians who are good examples of how a Christian should commit himself in favour of others. Such people should be encouraged. In our country we are also witnessing what the Pope referred to, i.e. certain scepticism about politics and politicians.
The number of armchair critics who try to justify their non-involvement by attacking the involvement of others is, unfortunately, on the increase. One hopes that this negative development is stalled by the involvement of more men and women of good will in public life.