A Christian Nation, No

 “To support the dropping of the Christian nation clause is to reject Jesus Christ and to give up one’s faith.”  But did not Christ himself warn: “It is not those who cry Lord, Lord, who will enter the Kingdom of Heaven but those who do the will of my Father” (Matthew 7: 21). 

And we are reminded that “Faith without actions is dead!” (James 2: 17). Some promoters of the Christian clause have accused non-promoters of not being true Christians. But as the Catholic bishops said in their 1992 Pastoral Letter, no nation is Christian by declaration but only by deeds, especially the deeds of justice and concern for the poor. 

It is these same Catholic bishops who have set up, often in cooperation with other churches, the largest set of health facilities in rural areas, the greatest numbers of home-based care programmes for HIV/AIDS patients (serving mostly the very poor), and numerous regular and community schools.  Because the Catholic bishops say no to the Christian nation clause, should their Christian authenticity be questioned and should they be accused of rejecting Jesus Christ?