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May 09Separation between Church and State, not quite…
The diligence with which the Catholic Church continues to render its influence over social aspects of the national way of life fickles little even when the count of its adherents diminishes with every year that passes to other religious flocks and Atheism. Birth control and the sexual over-exposure of teenagers are not however the only topics over which Monsignor Barrantes daily rules upon but as the trend has demanded also: the crisis is in vogue!.
And precisely on this particular some tension had been raised in past days between President Arias and the local Catholic “high command”: The Church had declared the measures of Plan Escudo wanting and failing to aid in the daily struggles of our people to deal and overcome the crisis –perhaps the one fitting deed the enclave of Saint Peter has committed itself into if not also the only respectable social endeavor in my own personal view-, however paradoxically Barrantes claimed the government had failed to come up with a plan that would successfully stand for the interests of all different groups in Costa Rica. ?
Oh my!, but if ever I saw the Church wishing defend the rights of all members of the flock and not just of its own. President Arias however did not fail to respond at the precise moment with something of a sharp quasi-classical remark: “I´d like to know how much money is the Church spending in helping the poor”. Touché.
In spite of all respectable subjects of discussion raised hereby, the always reliable and ever-watchful eye of Mayi Antillon´s Ministry of State Information has somewhat reshaped and toned down the character with which the President had so “rudely” addressed the situation. Now, they wish only underline the comparable work of both the government and religious entities to halt the recession and aid the community during these so perilous times. Don´t we all wish sometimes real life politics resembled more a Reality TV? (unless one thinks of course of the laughable scenarios of say, the Nigaragua Parliament?).