We have so much more than poor countries. We have no reason to be discontent and should instead be thankful. Politicians divide us though. I dont believe politics and our faith are compatible. The reason is that we are to be thankful even in hard times but instead we argue politics, we join factions, divide ourselves and utter discontentment instead of thanksgiving.. This is not spiritual and is worldly. WE must beware that politics destroy our spirituality.
This gets into difficulties; being ambassadors of God, stationed in the USA, we still have a civic duty to let God's will be done by the politicians we elect. Such secular issues as abortion, the death penalty, religious tolerance, gay marriage, restrictions on inappropriate contentography, and many others are also issues within our faith, and it makes sense that we should vote on these issues as we would handle them in our lives as Christians.
Catechism of the Catholic Church:
2255 It is the duty of citizens to work with civil authority for building up society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom.
Politics is a messy world, but the whole world is messy, and that didn't stop God from putting us here & helping us to fix it. Politicians divide us, but so does everyone; all the debates here on CF remind us of the divisions within the Universal Church, and your own post divides people who think Christians should or shouldn't be involved in politics. Humans are a divided race, and striking divisions is unavoidable. Jesus Himself said His mission is to divide; "Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!" (Luke 12:51) Think of all the times He dined with the Pharisees, and called them hypocrites, then telling His followers to beware the Scribes and Teachers of the Law; so many divisions! They're necessary, sometimes, an unavoidable part of our beautiful but broken world.
More from the Catechism:
The duties of citizens
2238 Those subject to authority should regard those in authority as representatives of God, who has made them stewards of his gifts: [Cf. Romans 13:1-2] "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution. . . . Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God." [1 Peter 2:13, 16] Their loyal collaboration includes the right, and at times the duty, to voice their just criticisms of that which seems harmful to the dignity of persons and to the good of the community.
2239 It is the
duty of citizens to contribute along with the civil authorities to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom. The love and service of
one's country follow from the duty of gratitude and belong to the order of charity. Submission to legitimate authorities and service of the common good require citizens to fulfill their roles in the life of the political community.
2240 Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one's country:
Pay to all of them their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due. [Romans 13:7]
[Christians] reside in their own nations, but as resident aliens. They participate in all things as citizens and endure all things as foreigners. . . . They obey the established laws and their way of life surpasses the laws. . . . So noble is the position to which God has assigned them that they are not allowed to desert it.46
The Apostle exhorts us to offer prayers and thanksgiving for kings and all who exercise authority, "that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way." [1 Timothy 2:2]
...
2245 The Church, because of her commission and competence, is not to be confused in any way with the political community. She is both the sign and the safeguard of the transcendent character of the human person. "The Church respects and encourages the political freedom and responsibility of the citizen."52
2246 It is a part of the Church's mission "to pass moral judgments even in matters related to politics, whenever the fundamental rights of man or the salvation of souls requires it. The means, the only means, she may use are those which are in accord with the Gospel and the welfare of all men according to the diversity of times and circumstances."53
Catechism of the Catholic Church - The fourth commandment
CatholicVote.org
