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We do not need 'pig in a poke' elections

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It was announced by the Vatican that the Pope is resigning and will go into retirement. I wish him the best in his retirement years. I know the process of selecting the next Pope is held tightly in the doctrines and beliefs of the Catholic Church. However, I am certain the next Pope will be selected from a group of people well versed in and recognized as Catholic in his theology and practice. I suppose they will look to someone who meets all those qualifications as well as who will be revealed to those making the decision after much prayer and well thought through considerations of the needs of the church and world at this time. I respect and appreciate the tradition and process that is in place in the Catholic Church and feel certain it will be followed going forward.

When a church is without a pastor of any denomination or theological belief system, it is certainly thought that by whatever process a new pastor is selected, to be called, hired or installed as the new pastor, that person will have been chosen because of their theological beliefs and the way they have put those personal theological beliefs into place in their lifestyle choices. It might have happened on occasion, but rarely do we hear of someone from a different theological belief system being given the chance to become pastor of a church not of their faith.   You might be wondering what all this talk of the Pope and pastors of churches is about.  The answer is found when we hear people dream about and talk about something known as a non partisan election. With all due respect, I can announce to you that the next Pope will be Catholic. When a church is without a pastor they seek someone from their own set of belief systems to become the next pastor (a Baptist church wants a Baptist pastor, and so forth).

The issue of non partisan elections continues to be brought up by some people who, I guess, think they are being inclusive and allowing for all people to have a chance to run for office. Some have said the only way we are going to get some good people to run is to not require them to let us know their political belief system before they are elected. That nonsense sounds like what we hear when someone says the only way we will know what is in a bill is to pass it and then find out what is in it.

 I have friends in various churches and each are proud to be identified with their church belief system, therefore, they put the name on the sign in front of the church letting all who pass by know the doctrines and beliefs systems of that church. I have friends with a wide range of loyalties to sports teams. Those of us who support a certain team have hats and other clothing we proudly wear so that everyone will know the team we support. Sports could be called the most partisan expression of support in our nation. The same people who insist on improving the political process by having non partisan elections would fight to keep their loyalties to their favorite sports team or to their church of choice.

I keep reading that some people are suggesting that certain elections of public officials should be so open that any person can declare for that office without letting the voters know what they believe or where they stand on the issues that will be faced once they are in office. The name that has been given to that type of bad legislation is non partisan. We are told under that system more freedom will be granted allowing for the person not to be tied to a certain set of beliefs. That thinking does not pass the smell test with me. What is wrong with any person seeking public office letting the people who will hire them in an election know what they believe and where they stand on the issues? We have a better chance of making a good decision when we know the person running for office is not ashamed to let the people who will vote for them know where they stand on issues.  We do not need a “pig in a poke” system of elections.

Ray Newman





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