The Failed Politics of Religion

Yesterday the following letter to the editor appeared in the Des Moines Register:

"Recently, I received a request for money from the Catholic Diocese of Des Moines. This annual appeal, signed by the bishop, arrived about the same time his lobbyist was testifying in the Iowa Legislature in favor of House Study Bill 50, the Religious Conscience Protection Act."

"This proposal would legislate broad discrimination aimed mostly at married gays. That this measure is cloaked in "religious conscience" seems hypocritical, and that my church actively supports it is for me appalling and embarrassing. Fortunately, at least for the moment, the bill is dead. Unfortunately, for me, the disappointment in my church lingers."

"Sorry, bishop, my conscience will no longer allow me to support the diocese."

I couldn't have said it better myself. Forget about how this bill is an incredibly stupid attempt to legislate morality in this state. Focus instead on this being one of many examples of the consequences of mixing religion with politics.

If my religion strongly opposes something I strongly believe in, how do I reconcile that with their requests for me to tithe, or otherwise fund their ability to continue that opposition? The only answer I can come up with is to show support by way of service and not by way of money.

I understand the fight for social justice must in some respects be played out in the legislature or the courts, and there is a financial cost to that. I get that. But that fight for compassion is a far cry from financially supporting a religious dogma that has little to do with faith.

So how to you keep religion from mixing with politics? Easy. Eliminate the tax-exemptions for churches and other organizations who actively lobby. Once these organizations experience the financial hurt of their actions, they might just be a little bit more keen to the emotional hurt they put on people who simply don't share their faith or political convictions.