Is Politics Good for the Church?

Here is an exerpt from a news report from the CBCP News entitled "6 Bishops Now Backs JC, March 6, 2010.

"Four more Catholic bishops came out in the open endorsing the Ang Kapatiran party of presidential aspirant John Carlos “JC” de los Reyes, breaking with the tradition of offering commentary on election-related moral issues without endorsing candidates."

Sometimes, I wonder how bad the social situation here in the Philippines has become.  That even Bishops are moved to intervene in order to defend the principles and faith that has molded our Nation against the gigantic problems of corruption and seeming impunity for evils in our country.  I personally believe that it is not a good idea for clerics to be involve in politics.  Politics involves a struggle for power where individuals, groups and  parties jostle for control.  Often these contending parties wish to defeat their opponents.  Thus for religious leaders to be involve in politics is never a good idea.  It will compromise the mission of the Church.  The Hierarchy should stand above the situation.  Being pastors of souls they have to stand above the rest.  For they are a fathers to both the good and obedient as well as to the disobedient.  However, I could not blame some of our Bishops.  And I will never dare to criticize such moves, because this shows us that our society has gone the way of the wild.  Justice cries out to heaven, innocent blood spilled, the poor go hungry while their leaders enjoy the good life, the powerful continues to oppress the weak.  Our leaders have let us down.  Successive generations of leaders failed to live up to righteous governance.  Thus, Christians who live up to the teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ could not stand idle and pretend not to know.  For indeed, the true follower of Christ will be moved to do something to uphold justice.  The true religion as St. James said is to do mercy and to be kind to the poor.  Who will defend the flock against the ravening wolves?  Our Bishops are just doing their job.  So let us use our privileges and rights to choose good leaders who will uphold truth and justice and who will defend life against the culture of death and materialism.