By Lloyd Mackey

IT IS always interesting to evaluate the faith of our political leaders. The danger lies in either oversimplifying or overestimating the shape and impact of such faith.

This week, having said that, I will try to approach that double-edged precipice without falling too far into the canyon.

Within the past few weeks, both the prime minister and the leader of the Green Party have been interviewed by small-circulation publications which happen to be significant media for their particular niche audience.

A few months before, the Liberal leader met with an elite group of Christian leaders who wanted him to hear their perspectives, just in case he became the prime minister before next summer's G-8 conference, which is being hosted by Canada.

And the leader of the NDP has been the most regular attender of any of the leaders, at the annual Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast. His main prop, when he reads the scripture chosen for him, is a well-worn Bible that his late father (a one-time Mulroney cabinet minister) once used to teach a popular United Church Sunday school class.

(In today's piece, I will comment only on the parts of the story relating to the Conservative and Green leaders. The others, about which I have written before, will be the subject of a future OttawaWatch.)

* * *

Stephen Harper's interview, occurring on June 24, St. Jean Baptiste Day, appeared in the French-language Prestige magazine, a regional Quebec City publication

The Globe and Mail picked up on it August 29, by noting that the prime minister declared himself, in the final analysis, to be more interested in the "verdict of God" on his life, than those "of historians."

Further, he suggested, he would regret any situation that gave him success in politics but caused him to "lose his family."

He spoke of his rapport with his children, Benjamin and Rachel, and the fact that when he plays the piano, "I get fully and emotionally involved and I'm not myself any more; it's not something I could do only as a hobby."

It should be noted that the interview did not, itself, make "God's verdict" the big thing in the story, but rather wove it in to others relating to his family and his interest in hockey and music.

But the fact that Harper thinks often and speaks periodically, in carefully couched terms, about matters relating to God and family, is worth a mention or two in the right places at the right times.

All this brings me to the letter that the prime minister penned to be read at TheCRY, the recent prayer day held at Stanley Park in Vancouver, in preparation for a Christian presence at the 2010 Olympics. He said:

This unique assembly is an opportunity for young people from, across our beautiful nation to come together for a weekend of prayer, worship, dialogue, and fun. As Vancouver prepares itself for the 2010 Olympics, you will be discussing important issues such as human trafficking, violent crime and poverty from a faith-based perspective. In the process, you will form meaningful friendships and, most importantly, you will cultivate your faith and grow as conscientious individuals.

But the closing paragraph included something else, where I expect Harper wanted to make a point that he usually might skip, if, for example, he was sending greetings to a convention of left-handed widget manufacturers.

Continue article >>

He said:

On behalf of my colleagues in the Government of Canada and my wife, Laureen, please accept my best wishes for a fun-filled, empowering and enlightening event.

* * *

The interview with Elizabeth May, the leader of the Green Party, was conducted by Josiah Neufeld, assistant editor of ChristianWeek. It had May talking about perhaps becoming an Anglican minister if she should move into life beyond politics.

Some of the content was similar to material contained in a piece that Jim Coggins, associate editor of CC.com, did two years ago.

Of new interest coming out of the Neufeld interview was the fact that, in anticipation of a possible move into the clergy, May is taking some studies at St. Paul University, an Ottawa Catholic school.

The mention of St. Paul prompted your humble scribe to send off a letter to the editor, which appears below:

It was good to see Elizabeth May reiterating her Christian faith. I was particularly impressed with the fact that she is taking studies at St. Paul University, in partial preparation for a possible future in Christian ministry.

I would encourage her to include, in her work, some courses in conflict management. St. Paul is most well-regarded for its initiatives in that area.

May has often exhibited a pit bullish approach toward the prime minister and the current governing party.

True, she is in an adversarial political setting. But, as a Christian, she has the opportunity to exhibit a more conciliatory stance.

Indeed, she has nothing to lose by encouraging Conservatives and Liberals -- as the two largest parties -- to work together on some of the issues which are important to her.

Lloyd Mackey is a member of the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery in Ottawa and author of Stephen Harper: The Case for Collaborative Governance (ECW Press, 2006), More Faithful Than We Think: Stories and Insights on Canadian Leaders Doing Politics Christianly (BayRidge Books, 2005) and Like Father, Like Son: Ernest Manning and Preston Manning (ECW Press, 1997). Lloyd can be reached at lmackey@canadianchristianity.com.

Related stories:

'God's verdict' outranks history's, PM says
Softer side of Harper on display in Quebec magazine interview as he talks about faith, family and country
Globe and Mail, August 29

God disapproves of a stacked Senate
According to a media report Prime Minister Stephen Harper is more concerned with "God's verdict" than he is with what historians will ultimately say about his government. This got me to thinking as what it will be like when Harper does one day meet his maker at the Pearly Gates.
Gerry Nicholls, Full Comment, National Post, August 31

September 3/2009