Just how much influence did the voting choices of committed evangelical Christian and Roman Catholic voters have upon the final results in the recent Australian and US elections?
In both countries post-mortem comments by media analysts have seen them pondering the rise of the so-called "fundamentalist right', (a pejorative term used by liberal and left-wing media to disparage politically active right-wing Christians).
In pre-polling comment, Christian voting intentions, as a significant bloc, barely rated a mention, especially in Australia.
In the US of course it is somewhat of a different matter for there are many US evangelical and Roman Catholic organisations that are prominent in the political arena.
Though Australian groups such as the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL), the Family Association and Family First were clearly active in the weeks of the Federal election campaign, as too were CDP supporters in NSW, commentators travelling with both Coalition and Labor election bandwagons did not seem to believe were worth mentioning, even after some judicious second preference deals were negotiated by Family First.
"That nobody, including the opinion pollsters, saw Family First coming exposes the complacent contempt of Australian elites for religion," Australian columnist, Frank Devine wrote on 15th October. Though he seemed to say also that religion and politics should be kept separate.
"I'm not in favour of structural mingling of religion and politics, which tends to give God a bad name," he said.
He also drew a distinction between Australian and US voters' attitudes. "For us, domestics issues in politics means economics. To Americans domestic issues mean moral issues " the morality of war, of abortion, of social exclusion. They're debated constantly."
"The desperate poverty of our campaign discourse stands exposed. Because we exclude moral values, our political landscape contains vast tundras of unspoken thoughts and taboo subjects."
"By denying the importance to most Australians of moral values based on religious belief and tradition, politicians and opinion shapers make room for politico-religious groups splinter groups. Even worse for the politicians, continuing to turn a deaf ear will probably lead to defeat."
But some politicians seem to have heard the message. Family First, virtually unknown around Australia, except South Australia, before the election, have their first senator, in Victoria. The pity of that vote is that former Labor senator Jacinta Collins lost her seat, and she is a committed right-wing Roman Catholic whose expressed views often accorded with biblically based Protestants " this was notable in the federal parliamentary voting some time ago on human embryo research.
The new Victorian (Family First) senator is Steve Fielding. The Age reported that when it looked as though he would hold the balance of power in the Senate - before Queensland Senate voting swung to the Coalition - party leader Harris received a phone call from the Prime Minister, and during the conversation Mr Howard undertook to provide family impact statements for all future Coalition policies. When he received that commitment, though they no longer hold balance of power, "Harris knew Family First had arrived."
Jim Wallace of ACL wrote on their website that "One of the big stories of this election is that Christians have had a significant impact on the result." He added, "Whether Labor underestimated or just ignored the awakening of this constituency is a matter for its [election] post-mortem."
A further considered view comes from the veteran journalist Paul Kelly, "The rise of the Greens has produced a backlash " a values-based Christian party, Family First. Such an organised force drawing on a religious base will tap into a growing minority sentiment in Australia. Family First will be contentious and provoke a hostile media reaction, sure to assist its publicity and traction."
Already many Aussie commentators have deplored the growing presence of Christians and Christian based groups in our political arena. Religion, they say, must be kept out of politics. They seem to have no problem with the pseudo-politico environmental platform of the Greens and other extreme leftists, but anything that smacks of the Christian religion is downplayed or ignored.
Of course this can at times result in great effect if religious leaders don't overuse their moves into the political arena. If they speak judiciously and at a strategic time their message will be heard everywhere. Whatever readers think of the statement on Labor's proposed education policy from Cardinal Pell, and Archbishops Jensen, Hart and Watson, no-one can claim it disappeared without trace into media WPBs.
Of course the US political scene is different. There, people standing for election make their religious commitments quite clear, and religious leaders are known to advise their adherents on how to vote. For example, in late October Wisconsin Roman Catholic Bishop David Zubik issued a note on church bulletins urging Catholics to vote in the presidential election and to base their vote foremost on opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage.
He dismissed any distinction between faith and public life.
"Some political figures in this election have asserted that there is a natural divide between their religious beliefs and their political views," he wrote in his diocesan newspaper. "I argue this is patently false. [It] goes against the fabric of what it means to be a person of faith. When you go to your polls, don't leave God outside. Remember that God created marriage. It's not a lifestyle choice that seeks to make marriage by law something God never intended marriage to be."
With religious leaders and religious based groups prepared to go that far in the US election campaign, is it any wonder that many US commentators in their post-mortems on the election result are declaring that evangelical Christians and Roman Catholics pushed President Bush over the line towards his second term.
The Washington Times, a conservative newspaper often offering far more conservative views that the liberally inclined Washington Post, ran a column pointing out that moral values topped the list of issues voters were most concerned about when they went to the polls. A national exit poll found that 22 percent of voters cited moral values as "the most important issue". 20 percent went for the economy and jobs and 19 percent cited terrorism.
In eleven States a referendum was conducted with the Presidential vote. It called for an amendment that said marriage was only appropriate between a man and a woman. This was passed in all eleven states, and by over sixty percent in ten of them.
"It is clear one of the major factors in this presidential race was the strong turnout of the faith and pro-life communities," Rev Patrick Mahoney director of the Christian Defense Coalition said. "Moral issues played a major role across the country as witnessed by the fact that all 11 traditional-marriage voter initiatives passed."
The Times [UK] said "evangelical Christians handed the White House an overwhelming mandate against abortion, same-sex "marriage" and other issues in the culture wars".
It could well be asked that, if this is the case, where is the Episcopal Church of the United States? Presiding Bishop Griswold issued a statement after the election result was announced.
"Having come through one of the most vitriolic and divisive election campaigns any of us has ever experienced, we now look ahead to the next four years and the continuing leadership of President Bush. For many of our fellow citizens this is a cause for rejoicing," he said. "For others it is an occasion for despair. Given the polarizing rhetoric that has been employed throughout the campaign, it may be very difficult to find our way forward. Therefore, what is needed now on all sides is a genuine effort to move beyond entrenched positions and to seek common ground. What is needed now is a unifying vision, clearly articulated, of our great nation as a servant of all the world's peoples in their yearning after justice and peace."
No comment there on the traditional-marriage voter initiatives!
Influence when it comes is often overplayed. If Christian groups and leaders now have more political ears listening when they speak in this country, then they must be careful to use their opportunities to support biblically authenticated opinions and actions. Political moves that have respect for human life and dignity, for equality of opportunity and access to financial, natural and medical resources for all citizens, for compassionate care for the ill, the disadvantaged and the poor, and for responsible protection of the resources of the God-given environment " and for policies that are family friendly and protective of children, these are what Christians must call for from any politician. Those platforms that have clear biblical warrant.
But as the Wisconsin Roman Catholic bishop said, we cannot leave God outside when we vote. He indwells us and guides and is with us wherever he goes. No Christians can be a-Christian and value neutral in their politics. To do so would be to deny their whole life commitment to the God who is Creator and Saviour.
There are Christian politicians in the major political parties. We should not be surprised to find them there but we should rejoice in their presence, for God does not leave himself without witness anywhere. Pray for them regularly asking that they may be given the wisdom that comes from above to aid them in their work, for the good of this nation, and for the glory of God.
