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Should Religious Leaders Condemn Gas Guzzlers?

by Rev. Robert A. Sirico, Acton President

A criticism often leveled against conservative Christians is that they turn political issues, on which reasonable people can honestly disagree, into matters of doctrine and faith. The problem is even more endemic to the religious left.

If we want to look at the religious attempt to impose their values" on others via the political process, we need look no further than the struggle over the fate of sport utility vehicles.

...Aside from the debatable contention that SUVs contribute substantially to environmental degradation (as opposed to being a marginal issue compared with other environmental concerns, and the fact that smaller cars mean more people in more cars), the theologically serious person will want to ask if such campaigns enhance the credibility of the religious message. This campaign strikes me as more of a gimmick to advance a debatable political agenda than a serious theological reflection....

...the Gospels and the writings of the church fathers contain not one account of early Christians lobbying the legislatures for change. Their attentions were focused elsewhere, on building their communities, calling people to penance and expanding the faith itself. Most of their efforts were spent on staying as far away from government authorities who, they rightly assumed, intended nothing but harm, but for whom they regularly prayed.

Ours is a highly secular age. Our world craves spirituality and sacred space.

Protesting car dealerships for selling vehicles that improve people's lives does nothing toward showing the way to transcendental truth. It is a temptation from which, I pray, the Lord will soon deliver his people.