A Sunday Homily

I’ve always been suspicious of politicians, and others, who wear their religion on their sleeves and who cite it as proof of their goodness. In my opinion, if you’re a Christian, you really shouldn’t need to tell people that you are. If others see, through your actions, that you’re a good human being who understands the importance of compassion, of humanity, of empathy and the centrality of love, then the discovery that you are a believer should come as absolutely no surprise. Your deeds would echo your faith, rather than your deeds betraying your faith.

As we know from what she says, the most prominent self-declared Christian politician in the UK today is Theresa May (OK, I know Tim Farron is as well but he doesn't have the same profile as TM). Many times during this campaign she has said things along the lines of "her Christian faith helps guide her in every decision she makes". Mmm, is that so? Let's have a look at how a person who is guided by her faith votes to help others in parliament. She has:

* Voted for every military action and bombing campaign in the last 4 parliaments. 
* Voted for all benefit cuts against the disabled. 
* Voted for all benefit cuts against the sick such as those receiving on going hospital treatment for illnesses such as cancers and MS.. 
* Voted for the removal of 3rd child benefit. 
* Voted for the removal of benefits for the 16-21 age group. 
* Voted for the bedroom tax which has hurt some of the poorest working families in Britain and especially those with young disabled children. 
* Voted for the mass removal of disability vehicles. 
* Voted for NHS pay freezes. 
* Voted against energy caps to help the poor who were being forced into fuel poverty. 
* Voted against building 100,000 affordable homes for low income workers. 
* Voted against curbing payday lenders who exploite the most vulnerable. 
* Voted against implementing a series of proposals intended to reduce tax avoidance and evasion by huge corporations to help better fund the NHS. 
* Voted against creating more jobs for young people funded by bank bonuses and fines. 
* Would vote to reintroduce fox hunting, a so called sport which she says she is very fond of. 

I'll admit that my theology is somewhat flakey but I'm not too sure that Jesus would be very proud of Mother Theresa and her take on Christian compassion. Compassion means you put the needs of the weak and the vulnerable before the needs of the strong and the rich. Don’t know about you, but it strikes me that there's little about Mrs May's political deeds that’s Christian.

So this Sunday, let's join together and reflect on the gap between the words and the deeds of our political leader who lays claim to Christian beliefs. Today's lesson is to beware of those who feel the need to display their faith like an advertising hoarding. It’s actions, not words, which count, and her actions are the opposite of all the things that her faith claims to stand for and to have taught her. The real religion of Mrs May, and the party she represents, is hypocrisy, greed and a materialistic selfishness. Pharisees rather than Christians. Here endeth the homily.