Pope Tells Catholics To Ignore The Bible, Become Political

Pope Benedict XVI this week told Catholics they should become more political, ignoring what the Bible teaches about politics. Speaking in Tuscany, the Pope urged the melding of Church and State, and told listeners to be “the engine of society in promoting peace through justice.”

Via Vatican Insider:

Today, said the Pope, in his role as theologian and pastor, “there is a particular need for the service of the Church to express itself through an enlightened laity, capable of operating within the city of man,” with a “willingness to serve beyond private interest, beyond partisan views.” The common good, said the Pontiff, is more important than the good of the individual, and it is up to Christians to contribute to the emergence of a new public ethic. “We are reminded of the splendid figure of the newly-Blessed Giuseppe Toniolo,” says the Pontiff. “Christians, especially young people, are called to oppose distrust of social and political engagement with commitment and a love of responsibility, motivated by evangelical charity. We ask them not to withdraw into themselves, but to care for others.”

The Pope challenged young people to think big: “Be daring! Be prepared to give a new flavor to all of civil society, with the salt of honesty and selfless altruism. You need to rediscover strong motivation to serve the good of the citizenry.” The challenge for Christians is to “harmonize the rediscovery of their ancient identity with the acceptance and incorporation of different cultures and attitudes.”

[emphasis ours.]

In Romans 13:1-7 the Bible says:

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. …