A long time ago in ancient Europe, and for a while here in America, when a town was built, the Church was usually placed at the very center and everything revolved around it. This was both practical and symbolic. Since everyone saw their church as the center of their lives (after all, what could be more important than your eternal destiny?), they wanted it to be right there where it was visible and accessible. Then (I am not exactly sure when), towns began to be designed a bit differently; they put the courthouse at the center of the town square, and the churches all got pushed further out.
It may seem to some like this is just a technical point, but there is something very specific going on here. Christianity was losing its influence, and the state was becoming more and more the key player in society. This is not to say that there was never a problem with statism (the idea that the civil state is the primary authority in all existence) before these things started happening. There have always been those kings and politicians who wanted to be worshipped (think of Pharaoh). Yet, in a society like America, where things were founded on (moderately) Christian principles, it is very revealing to see this change take place.
Even the media seems to portray for us that the most important thing to impact our lives is what is going on politically (the "State of the Union" speech is center stage; what about the "State of the Church"?). This perspective here in these United States has spread so efficiently, that most do not even know that they have bought into it. In fact, there is an odd consequence of this trend: today it seems politicians want to teach us morals, and clergy want to teach us politics. Is something going on here? No, I do not mean every politician or every clergyman, but I do mean a large percentage of them.
The Christians in America, a few generations back, largely handed over the responsibility of caring for the poor to the civil government (it is what we call, "welfare and social security"). When this happened, the government became a Nanny; and, of course, Nannies have to teach and guide and train, so American politicians quickly switched from implementing moral truth that was taught by the Church, to teaching its own understanding of what moral truth is. From there, the slippery slope is easy to see. As soon as statism takes a firm seat at the table, socialism is likely going to follow soon after.
I think I know what it is that has helped this philosophy to take such a firm hold on people today. We have been brainwashed to believe that politics is the most important thing in the world. This is why many clergymen (who are not supposed to be "the politicians of the Church") who believe that politics is the key to the universe often try to "play politician". How many homilies have you heard recently that come across as more of a political commentary than an admonition to self-sacrificial holiness?
As usual, I must clarify so that no misunderstandings can occur here. The civil government is not supposed to be "amoral" or aim at some foolish neutrality in ethical issues (which is what many politicians claim to be doing today--which only goes to show how completely confused they are). Neither are clergymen supposed to be silent on whether a politician or a law is morally right. Each is supposed to be active in the arena of the other. The issue is how are they active? If they are active by confusing their proper roles, then something is amiss.
If priests are constantly preaching about political issues ("this policy is good; this senator is bad") then they are also giving in to the idea that politics is the center of our existence. When politicians are constantly telling us that they know what is good and moral, then they are wanting us to believe that they can decide on morality on their own. Show me a clergyman who preaches clearly about holiness and I will show you someone who is equipping his people to know whether a politician is moral or not. Show me a politician who says, "I don't trust my own judgment on morality, but I will listen to the authentic Magisterium of the Church" and I will show you someone who can be trusted to lead.
In the grand scheme of things, politics does not matter (there, I said it!). Yes, it matters whether a politician is promoting an immoral political scheme (as the majority are today), but what goes on in politics has a relatively small impact on society when compared with religion. Consider this for a moment: does your governor, or the speaker of the house, or the president have an impact on your eternal destiny? Sure, laws and politicians have an impact on how much of your hard earned money you can keep, and how many personal freedoms you have, but how much do those things effect your faith in God (unless you choose to give them more power than they are supposed to have!)?
There are two basic reasons why so many people have fallen for the error that politics is the "biggest authority on earth". First, we have been taught for generations now that the government will solve all our problems, so now we have begun to believe it. Second: once you abandon faith in the God Who can solve our problems, you have to look elsewhere for a new "savior" and politicians would love for you to think that they are that very thing! When we lose faith in God, we always transfer our faith to someone or something else. Of all the false gods that the devil offers, it seems that the state is the one that taking a front seat today. Let us not give in to the idols of this age.
