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Religion in politics: An extreme position? President Andrew Jackson demanding an end to the maltreatment of Native Americans. The Christian beliefs of oras’ Catholic identity forms a abolitionists also played a critical role critical element of our home here. in their political contributions, namely This is why we must pay attention abolition. when anyone’s religious identity is Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Nobel Peace challenged elsewhere in the United Prize biography states, “In 1957 he States. A string of such incidences was elected president of the Southern requires our attention. Christian Leadership Conference, an On Dec. 5, Senator Maize Hirono organization formed to provide new (D-HI) told Brian Buescher, a judicial nominee, that, “the Knights of Columbus leadership for the now burgeoning civil rights movement. “The ideals for this has taken a number of extreme organization he took from Christianity; positions.” its operational techniques from Gandhi.” They asked him if he would terminate Perhaps religion in politics simply his membership in the group if leads to better politics. confirmed. These “extreme Not always, but not positions,” it is worth noting, infrequently either. This was are only the teachings which Second, religion shapes are implicitly claimed by motivated the consciences of many Catholics every time they people. In these cases, to by fear of identify themselves as say that one’s vote cannot Catholics. (I should note Catholics be informed by religion that I am also a Catholic is to say that one’s vote and a Knight of Columbus. being cannot be informed by I acknowledge my own Catholic in one’s conscience. This is connection to the issue. problematic. Furthermore, on the local the world obviously Third, because level, we are not a primarily of politics religious freedom is a political organization. Singing human right. By ‘human horribly to raise money and right,’ I mean something pay for a well in Africa is much which society as a whole more our speed.) owes to an individual human because In an older incident, Senator Dianne it is necessary for that individual to Feinstein (D-CA) told a Catholic develop into a mature, fulfilled human. nominee, “In your case, professor, when Human rights secure these necessities you read your speeches, the conclusion on a variety of levels: the human as an one draws is that the dogma lives loudly organism, the human as a being with within you, and that’s of concern.” the ability to think and choose, and In both of these cases, the nominees the human as a being which is born made it clear that they would abide by into and require social interactions the laws of the United States and the and relationships. Religious freedom expectations for judges to be impartial. is the right to pursue those ends which This was not about their ability to do the are beyond nature or to pursue natural job. It was simply a challenge having a ends through supernatural means. For public Catholic identity and serving in example, the right to go to Mass on the nation’s courts. Sunday or to produce and purchase My concern here is not with the kosher food are basic religious freedoms. separation of church and state as the Furthermore, religious freedom extends separation of institutions. That’s a good to the right to not fight in the armed thing. Nor is it only with the particular forces during times of war and to scenario of religious tests for holding educate one’s children in one’s beliefs. judicial offices. Rather, my concern Certain religions, such is with the claim that a as Catholicism, make person should check their demands in the political religious identity before The Church has sphere. entering the door of Saint Oscar Romero the right and politics. If the free practice wrote, “The church an obligation to of religion does not extend has a right and an to the political sphere, speak about the obligation to speak then it is not freedom at political sphere. about the political all. Would we treat any sphere.” St. Oscar Romero other freedom in this way? Archbishop of San Salvador St. Romero was If the freedom of speech the Archbishop of did not extend to politics, San Salvador, where we would recognize it as he was martyred for simply not being freedom. If the freedom preaching against the dictatorship. of the press did not extend to politics, Curtailing religious freedom in it would not be freedom. In the above politics, since it requires everyone to cases, there was no reason to believe assume that there is no fulfillment that these nominees would act as agents beyond the natural when they operate of or otherwise serve the interests of in the political sphere, prevents the Knights of Columbus, the bishops, humans from seeking supernatural or anyone else. This was not motivated maturity and fulfillment. Therefore, by concern about the separation of to constrain the role of religion in church and state. This was motivated politics is to violate human rights. by a fear of Catholics being Catholic in In order to combat that trend, I the world of politics. There is no reason would recommend first looking at all to fear religious people continuing to of the diverse contributions religious be religious while also being political. groups are making to politics today First, because of all of the good which and recognizing that they fall all has come from religious individuals over the political spectrum. These bringing their religion into their politics. range from working against the death Their ranks include our own Samuel penalty to suing the U.S. government Mazzuchelli, a Dominican priest who to prevent the construction of parts dedicated himself to spreading the of the border wall. Second, recognize Gospel in our area. That’s a religious the importance which religious values person with a religious mission if ever play in people’s relationships and not there was one. It was this religious just in their private worship. There element which drove him to make many are few religions that don’t hold moral political contributions from preaching beliefs alongside the more abstractly against slavery and war to writing to spiritual ones. Third, religious
Feb. 21, 2019
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by JEFF FRIEDEN
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staff writer
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Who broke up The Beatles?
The media made a confusing situation even more confusing as the legendary band was coming apart
A lot of people think that Yoko Ono, John’s lover at the time, had influence in breaking up the Beatles and John’s leave. However, Paul still had respect for Yoko because she loved his friend, John, and they had a happy life together until his death. In the same interview, Stern brought up a crazy story about members of the by TYLER FAHEY Beatles arriving at Paul’s house, telling staff writer him that he could not put out his first here have been different theories of solo album. who broke up the Beatles and how This happened during the same time the collapse of their associated the Beatles final studio album, “Let It record label “Apple Corps” fell. In a Be” was going to be released. Ringo recent interview with popular radio host, Starr, the drummer of the Beatles, Howard Stern brought legal papers interviewed Paul to Paul’s house. Paul McCartney and he kicked him out. Paul touched on a lot of John Lennon and later said that he the Beatles’ history. worked it out with Paul McCartney Stern said, “When Ringo and they are the Beatles broke now friends and have are the most up, and who knows been for quite some who broke up the successful singertime. Something I Beatles”, Paul then found interesting songwriter duo interrupts and said, was earlier in the “I know, John”. Paul interview, when Paul and part of the went on to say that said he was glad that best-selling band there was a meeting he and John patched with all the Beatles things up after the in the history of members and their Beatles broke up. business partners popular music. Had they not, there and associates, and would have been many John came in and mixed feelings, guilt, stated that he was and lack of closure after leaving the group. The notion in the press John was killed in December of 1980. was that John had blamed Paul for the John Lennon and Paul McCartney are breakup, but Paul said that’s just “hype”. the most successful singer-songwriter Paul, a year later, left the group and duo and the best-selling band in the the Beatles and Apple Corps were finally history of popular music. They have defunct. All the members of the Beatles created their place in history, and it’s at soon after put out their first solo albums. the top of the totem pole.
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