Between Jobs

                                                                                       

As I write this, we – or at least the Roman Catholics among us – are in an interregnum (that, however, doesn't seem to be the right word). By the time you read it, though, a new Pope will probably have been elected.

Elected.

That also seems like a funny word. While “elected” is often understood to mean “chosen by G-d,” in this instance it is the College of Cardinals that is doing the choosing. Perhaps they're working under His direction, however the discussion seems to be more about management than sanctity. Should the position be entrusted to one of the Old Guardⁱ or to a reformer? There's little discussion about saintliness or miracles.ⁱⁱ There seems to be more attention paid to politics than theology.

Many religions do not accept any distinction between secular and religious law. There is G-d, but not Caesar. Consequently some governments hold this view. The American perspective is different. Our Constitution, in the First Amendment, forbade Congress from making any law regarding the establishment of a state religion, and many have interpreted the meaning of this stricture more widely. They consider any law regarding religion, or any action by the state which may be seen to help all religions as violating what Jefferson termed “a wall of separation between Church & State.”ⁱⁱⁱ The amendment, however, only deals with the establishment of a single official faith. In any event, any politician whose faith deviates from normative “American Protestantism” is looked upon with some suspicion. Indeed, when John Kennedy ran for President he had to state that he would not let his (Catholic) religion influence his political decisions, and there cannot be much doubt that his election would have been far easier had he been a Protestant.

The choice of a religious leader, however, follows different rules. There is an assumption of faith in all of the candidates, although each may understand the requirements of that faith somewhat differently from the others. And no one declaims or disclaims any political views – at least not publicly. We all have views on a wide variety of different subjects and it is unrealistic to believe that our decisions will not be molded based on everything we have been taught and everything we have experienced before. We cannot separate ourselves from any aspect of our beliefs, whether they be social, political, or religious, and we are fooling ourselves if we think we can.

Absent events like those leading to the election of Pope Fabian in the third century of the common era, the new Pontiff will be chosen by fallible humans based on what are primarily political concerns. As his predecessor was a man of unshakable faith, so must the new Pope be. But the man elected will have a political agenda along with a religious one. We can only hope that the choice will be well-advised and the new Pope will guide his “flock” with faith, love, and wisdom. We can be sure he'll have political savvy as well.

i      Not the Swiss Guard, but a supporter of the Roman Curia – one favoring “inside” control of the Church.

ii     Although many think it will be a miracle if the new Pope can make the scandals of the past disappear.

iii    The quotation appears in a letter that Jefferson sent to “a committee of the Danbury Baptist association in the state of Connecticut.” The letter dates from 1802.