Ryan Bridge: Religious leaders' messages work better without politics

Trump's at war with the Pope again, this time over Iran. Last time it was over Gaza. 

Usually the pontiff is a bit more low-key, just praying and kissing babies and cruising round in the white robe in the Pope-mobile, like Batman but less cool. 

Not Leo. Leo has spoken out, telling Trump to end the war and saying he does not fear the President.

This is a humanitarian appeal, but its delivery its a little more political than past statements because of the way the US President is being name-checked personally. 

There's nothing newsworthy about the Pope calling for peace. Popes are going to do what Popes do, and we all want peace. 

But religious leaders are doing more of this - getting political. 

We've had vicars in nappies chaining themselves to Nicola Willis' electorate office. Priests opposing ACT's Treaty bill. Ten church groups held an all-night vigil at St Paul's Cathedral in protest of the Coalition Government's 'move-on' orders. 

Deborah Coddington, former ACT MP, made a relevant observation about this in the Spinoff last week.

She said instead of showboating, hand-wringing and virtue signalling, churches could start paying rates to local bodies, and sell some valuable assets they currently rent out – which would raise enough money to house the homeless who sleep on the streets.

The Vatican, because of its small population and huge tithings, is the 18th wealthiest nation in the world per capita. They boast a huge real estate portfolio. 

It's hard to work out exactly what it's worth all up, but media reports anywhere between $73 and 250 billion. So more than the combined wealth of all the billionaires this country's ever known.

You can see how this starts to look if they get a little too political: hypocritical. 

Like the Salvation Army and Amnesty International when they go beyond calling out poverty, and start advocating for wealth taxes to solve it. 

It rubs people the wrong way. 

Personally, I think the less political a religious leader, the more effective and weightier their message. 

Is nothing sacred anymore? 

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