I Don't Think It Means What You Think It Means

Okay, so the Catholic Church in the Philippines is very politically involved. It regularly lobbies, even in issues wherein it has little competence. (Nothing too bad, like mining and GMO's.) Now, I wouldn't mind a few blowhard bishops shutting up now and then. But, most political issues have a moral dimension, and as shown by certain national policies and certain combox brain farts (including the ones in the editorial I'm about to cite), neither politician nor ordinary Joe Middle Class can easily get "moral" right. So, overall, I'm glad the Church gets involved as often as it does.

So, here comes an editorial from the Philippine Star.

The gist is the usual case of keep your rosaries off of some ugly chick's ovaries, by the same type of guy who seems to think all of the Philippines' economic woes can be solved by placing a rubber sock over every Filipino dick. (Apparently, self-restraint has been focus-grouped as "too hard" with a whiny voice.)  Ironically enough, it smells of pot calling kettles black.

But the real kicker is this:

"Malacañang and Congress can listen to all concerned sectors. But the country is supposed to be a democracy, not a theocracy, and the separation of church and state is enshrined in the Constitution. Religious groups can set policy — in their own organizations."

The T word. Yep, this guy went there.

Now, its one thing when professional leftist fearmongers in the US use the word to caricature any argument made by a Catholic or Evangelical. But in the hands of this numbskull, it just comes off as rehash. Dude, I've read Andrew Sullivan, and you're no Andrew Sullivan.

So, whenever the Church attempts to lobby Congress against a bill it deems to be a moral disaster, its suddenly theocracy? Has this idiot even seen a real theocracy? So, when the left lobbies government for the return of oil regulation, can we jump up and down and scream "Communism"? Oh, wait, farmers lobbying for land reform! We must be an agricultural tyranny! Homosexuals lobbying for...whatever it is they're lobbying for! Gayocracy!

Look, in a democracy, everybody has a say in how to run things, including *gasp* the Church. The government agreeing with the Church no more makes it a theocracy than appointing some washed up general makes it a junta.  The Star ought to get better writers. Leave this crap to the Inquirer.