Religion and Politics: Like and oil and water?

While public clerics are held in high regard by their own following, they are undoubtedly respected and influential beyond their immediate sphere of influence. The Dalai Lama, Ayatollah Khomeini, and Mahatma Gandhi are just a few examples of prominent spiritual leaders in their own rights. Each spiritual leader champions their religious belief, as well as social and political causes. In Stephen Mack's article Wicked Paradox: The Cleric as Public Intellectual, he states, "If there’s any truth to the old adage that religion and (liberal, democratic) politics don’t mix, it isn’t because they are polar opposites—an ideological oil reacting against a metaphysical water. Rather, it’s because they are, more or less, alienated kindred vying for the same space in the human imagination." While politics and religion may be competing for some sacred space in the human imagination, there is proof that religious clerics effectively use their high profile positions in order to influence international politics. The aforementioned religious clerics, and countless others, have publicly stated their views on international affairs in Tibet, Iran, and South Africa respectively. While these religious leaders are not foreign ministers or diplomats, their religious clout allots them time of the world stage. One of the most important religious clerics in today’s society is the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. From stem-cell research to condom distribution on the African continent, both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have most recently set the Vatican’s foreign agenda. Thus, in addition to being a moral and spiritual leader, the Pope's ability to transcend geographical area in order to represent a broader constituency, allows him to act as a traditional player would in the field of international relations.

The Vatican is its own nation-state. It only takes up 106 acres and is the smallest recognized state in the world. The Pope’s role, in addition to spiritual leader, is Head of State for Vatican City, and it’s government, the Holy See. While the Vatican may seem small compared to other nations, it holds diplomatic ties with an impressive 177 countries. The Vatican’s reach goes beyond its own walls due to the establishment of Catholic churches throughout the world. Of late, much discussion has been devoted to rising secularism in Europe and its effects on the Vatican’s influence on the day to day lives of Catholics. However, considering an overwhelming majority of the southern hemisphere is Catholic, and even 22% of the U.S. population is Roman Catholic, the Church does not risk fading out of the spotlight anytime soon.

Using the Catholic religion’s broad and deep influence, individual Popes have been able to pursue direct foreign policy routes. For example, Pope John Paul II was an avid supporter in the fall of communism. He aligned himself, and the Vatican, with U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War. It was during the period that Pope John Paul II and Ronald Reagan were in office that the Berlin Wall came down. This condemnation of communism did have further ramifications on Vatican relations with other states. Most specifically in China, where missionaries were trying to establish a large Catholic following, the local government did not want close ties with a Pope that was looking to take the proverbial rug out from under them. In fact, it was only until Pope Benedict XVI ascended to power that Chinese relations with the Vatican have improved.

While the Vatican was aligned with U.S. foreign policy in the late twentieth centuries, it has since diverged from the world’s major superpower. In 2003 Pope John Paul II vehemently opposed the pre-emptive invasion of Iraq. One of Pope Benedict’s stops on his first U.S. tour was the U.N. General assembly in New York. It was there that he was predicted to denounce the American led occupation of Iraq. Over the years, the Vatican has displayed behaviours consistent with that of any nation-state. The Vatican’s activity on the world stage is consistent with the mantra that foreign policy objectives change with the changing of leaders and international environments.

Pope John Paul II did not only take an ideological foreign policy stand, but involved himself in religious conflicts as well. Due to his upbringing in World War II Poland, Pope John Paul II had an extreme interest in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He was the first pro-Isreali Pope in history, and while his stand on the conflict may have isolated some, it demonstrated the role that public clerics can assume with regards to religious conflict. Currently there are eighteen inter-domination conflicts around the globe, and public clerics are often criticized for being too inactive, and tacit in preventing or stopping violent action. In the end, Pope John Paul II’s support of Israel was not as important as his outreach to help other faiths resolve their disputes was.

Lastly, while public clerics may become involved in religious disputes in order to take on the role of mediator, clerics have the added responsibility of representing their own faith. The Pope’s uniquely authoritative voice is heard far and wide, and if what the Pope is saying is taken poorly, that reflects on the entire following. For example, in 2006 Pope Benedict XVI gave a speech in which he stated, “Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.” Riots outbroke in Muslim countries to oppose the Pope’s offensive words. This incident highlights the fact that religious clerics must be aware of different variables than a traditional public intellectual might. Their influence is not based purely on academia or thoughts, faith plays a heavy role. Therefore, any statements made about their own faith, or the faith of another religion, is taken with the utmost sensitivity.

Public clerics are important public intellectuals in today’s society. As seen in the Vatican and the recent Papacy, public clerics are almost celebrities on the international stage. They can take firm positions on political subjects, and attempt interfaith dialogues in order to resolve religious conflicts. Their responsibility to their own constituency, in the Vatican’s case a vast one, and to other religion’s, makes the Pope’s role as public cleric one that continually walks a fine line between proactivity and religious preservation.