Do Religion And Politicians Mix?

By Lekopanye Mooketsi
Correspondent | Monday February 8, 2010 00:00

 

These days it has become common for pastors to dabble in politics.  But does this not divide the congregation? The same preacher who has been preaching about love and brotherhood in the morning, would later be delivering a different message at the freedom square as he/she attacks political opponents. 

Some of the men of the cloth who have become associated with politics include Reverend Rupert Hambira and Mpho Moruakgomo, both are Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) specially elected councillors in Gaborone and Kgatleng respectively. 

Another political reverend is the Minister of Health, Dr John Seakgosing who is also the MP for Kweneng South. 

Men of the cloth have not only become associated with the BDP but even with the opposition parties.  Reverend Ben Stegling was once a Botswana Congress Party (BCP) staunch activist.  He was the BCP parliamentary candidate for Moshupa during the 2004 general elections.  Stegling has since crossed the floor to join the BDP.  In the past, the Botswana National Front (BNF) had religious leaders who were serving in the organisation's central committee. 

The BCP publicity secretary, Dumelang Saleshando sees nothing wrong with the clergy serving politics.

To him, it is up to the respective church whether their clergy can serve political office as well.As far as Saleshando is concerned, the church's message is a political message. He says spiritual leaders should be preaching messages about caring for mankind.  

Saleshando says things would only go wrong if priests abuse their powers to campaign for political office.  He says it could divide the church if the priest trys to impose his political will. 

Saleshando says a minister would be abusing his powers if he shows bias against members of the congregation who support a different party. The BCP official says churches should encourage their members to vote and take part in political debate. 

'I don't think the Bible condones corruption,' he says, as he called on Christians to join the fight against corruption.

A University of Botswana lecturer, who preferred anonymity, says the debate on whether politics could mix with religion, is a theological discourse.   He says there are different philosophies to the discourse.  Some people feel that it is good while others think that the two should not mix. 

The academic sees nothing wrong with the clergy joining politics if it is for the common good and not for individual interests. He argues that even Jesus Christ was not apolitical.  'He was not disinterested in politics.'

'We are living in a world where you need to eat.  There is no way one can become aloof from politics.  Our daily needs are political,' he says.

Father William Horlu of the Roman Catholic Church, says as Christians, they cannot divorce themselves from the world around them.  'We are about developments, we advocate for the poor and sick.  We try to advocate for their cause,' says Father Horlu.  He says they encourage their members to join politics.  'We encourage our members to play an active role in politics.' 

However, he says, the Catholic clergy are not allowed to be actively involved in politics.  But for the other members they can do it. 

Horlu says active politics and being a cleric are two separate roles and this is why they do not allow their priests to hold political office.  He says the role of the ministers is religious.  'We are religious leaders. The role is essentially religious,' he says. He notes that religious leaders can promote democracy and good governance. 

Reverend Percival Mthethwa of the Empowerment Ministries, also sees nothing wrong with men of the cloth holding political office.  He says Christians should be involved in politics.  Mthethwa says it is the duty of Christians to see to it that justice prevails.  He says their involvement in politics should not only be confined to voting. 

'They should be watchdogs of the nation.' However, he wonders whether a priest who holds political office would have sufficient time for the ministry.  In his view, both callings are full time.  'One of them will be compromised.  It would be better to relinquish the pulpit if you want to go into politics because it will take up most of your time,' he says.

But he says morally there is nothing wrong with a moruti holding a political office.

But Mthethwa says as a priest you could quit when you hold a political office because you serve people from different political organisations.  Talking from his own experience, Mthethwa says he has never revealed his political affiliation. 

Mthethwa says to remove any doubts you might be forced to quit when you are a priest holding a political office.  He says at times when you take action against a church member who belongs to another political organisation, that person might feel you are biased.  He/she might feel that you are punishing him/her because you differ politically. 

But otherwise to Reverend Mthethwa, the nature of spirituality is political. 

He says even Daniel and Joseph were prophets of God.  But they never served as priests in the temple. Religious leaders are renowned for speaking against injustices.  During the Apartheid era, South African Arch-Bishop Desmond Tutu was renowned for speaking against the white regime. At times, Tutu would be seen blocking police armed vehicles as they were about to unleash terror on black people.  Tutu was later awarded the Nobel Peace prize for fighting against apartheid. 

Arch-Bishop Tutu was not the only cleric who was vocal against the Apartheid government. There were numerous others like Reverend Frank Chikane.

In Zimbabwe, Bishop Pious Ncube was a fierce critic of the self imposed President Robert Mugabe.  Ncube was the only man who could stand against the authoritarian Mugabe.