What would America's evangelical Christians think of Ireland's cost-cutting Budget?, asks Breda O'Brien
WHEN WE talk about being closer to Boston than Berlin, I often wonder just how true that is. Just because many of our teenagers would fit in at any American mall, does not mean that we understand American culture. For example, we regularly misunderstand the importance of religion to Americans. As the US prepares to vote in their presidential election, the vote of religious people will be crucial.
And that means most Americans, although the ways of being religious are many. The media attention focuses on the religious right, which is all too easy to caricature. However, it is a waning force. There have been profound changes. Many evangelicals are planning to vote for Obama. The prospect that evangelicals might actually tip the balance for Obama has alarmed conservative organisations to the extent that they have begun to predict apocalyptic scenarios if he is elected.
Rev Jim Wallis, a speaker, writer and activist, has been a major influence for change among evangelical Christians. He recently issued a list of six faith priorities that will inform his own voting. It is an interesting exercise to look at how his political priorities would apply to this country, particularly in light of the recent Budget.
Wallis's first priority is poverty. "Any solution to the economic crisis that simply bails out the rich, and even the middle class, but ignores those at the bottom should simply be unacceptable to people of faith." What about Irish voters? Our Budget initially targeted even the working poor for the income levy. It proposes to reduce education aid to Travellers, people needing book grants, and those who do not speak English as a first language. The cuts will impact upon those "at the bottom" disproportionately, because they are the ones who most need its positive impact.
He goes on: "From the biblical prophets to Jesus, there is, at least, a biblical presumption against war . . . I will choose the candidates who will be least likely to lead us into more disastrous wars and find better ways to resolve . . . conflicts." While Ireland has an honourable record in peacekeeping, we allow the US military to use Shannon. It is more than a little craven.
Wallis's next priority is "life issues". "I will choose candidates who have the most consistent ethic of life, addressing all the threats to human life and dignity that we face - not just one." How would we rate here? The Budget has allocated €891 million towards Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) for 2009. This means that Ireland remains on track to reach the target of spending 0.7 per cent of GNP on ODA by 2012, which is laudable given the economic situation.
However, on the issue of stem cell research, it is amazing that a national university like UCC could announce this week that it is pressing ahead with research that involves the destruction of embryos. It pinpoints again that legislation is badly needed. It is clear that some influential figures in the Cabinet are more interested in potential jobs than in whether it is right to end an innocent life.
Wallis will vote for a candidate that will promote "the great prospects of job creation and economic renewal from a new 'green' economy built on more spiritual values of conservation, stewardship, sustainability, respect, responsibility, co-dependence, modesty, and even humility". Hmmm. There was no carbon tax in the Budget, and no particular enthusiasm for one from Fianna Fáil. Modesty and humility? What can I say?
His next priority is protecting human dignity. He lists trafficking, sexual slavery and immigration reform, and refers to the biblical command to "welcome the stranger".
Newcomer children have gone missing from HSE care and some may be involved in forced prostitution. Our most recent legislation on trafficking allows 45 days as a period of grace for people who have been trafficked, nowhere near long enough. And welcoming the stranger? Well, the budget for the Office of the Minister for Integration has been cut by 25 per cent.
"Which candidates will best exemplify and articulate strong family values . . . speak of sexual restraint and integrity, marital fidelity, strong parenting, and putting family values over economic values?" Most Irish politicians run scared from these issues, perhaps because supporting such values is likely to lead to being metaphorically burned at the stake by the media.
What about the US election, which is what Wallis was really talking about? Obama scores higher on issues like poverty and antipathy to war, but has a really lousy record on abortion. McCain was excellent on immigration rights and good on the environment before he began his campaign, but has had to temper his views to prevent alienation of many Republicans.
Wallis says there is no perfect choice - and religious people will vote for both candidates.
However, the days when the Republican party owned the evangelical Christian vote are long gone.