We Must Resist the Religious Push for Political Power

by Terry Sanderson
Huffington Post

It’s happening all around the world. An increasingly politicised Catholic Church is manufacturing confrontations with governments in an effort to increase its influence and revitalise its dwindling flocks.

It is clear from what the Pope has been saying over the past five years that he intends to return Catholicism to what he sees as its rightful place in the heart of Government.

In America, a confrontation with the Obama administration over contraception coincided with the Republican presidential candidate race. Two of the presidential candidates are Catholic and they made full use of the opportunity to present the Obama’ health insurance policy as “a war on religion”. They were playing to the religious right’s gallery, making it one hell of a bruising battle.

In Britain, a similar tactic is being played out over gay marriage. The Catholic Church has alighted on this issue as its means of challenging the Government, flexing its muscles and attempting to pressurise a change of direction.
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