By PAULA KIRBY
Added: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 UTC

Q: U.S. Catholic bishops are defending their direct involvement in congressional deliberations over health-care reform, saying that church leaders have a duty to raise moral concerns on any issue, including abortion rights and health care for the poor. Do you agree? What role should religious leaders have -- or not have -- in government policymaking?

A: I hope you will forgive me if I answer this question via a detour to the United Kingdom, where we have no constitutional separation of church and state.

Just a week ago the UK Communities Secretary, John Denham, announced the creation of a new panel of 'religious experts' to advise the government on its public policy decisions (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/6569144/Faith-groups-to-be-key-policy-advisers.html). According to Mr Denham (a secular humanist), faith is a 'strong and powerful source of honesty, solidarity, generosity', and Christians and Muslims can contribute significant insights on key issues such as the economy, parenting and tackling climate change. And this is not a one-off initiative so far as Mr Denham is concerned. Far from it: 'We should continually seek ways of encouraging and enhancing the contribution faith communities make on the central issues of our time', not least because the values of Christians, Muslims and other religions are essential, he claims, in building a progressive society.

TAGGED: COMMENTARY, MORALITY, POLITICS