They say religion and politics don鈥檛 mix, but nobody really ever explains why.
It鈥檚 really because there isn鈥檛 much compromise in our religious views, which is perfectly fine.
Politics, however, is all about compromise, not only just a need to compromise religious beliefs, but also a need to make concessions on a whole variety of views to fit the needs of a society that encompasses a lot of different views.
It鈥檚 early in the tenure of new Conservative Party of Canada leader Erin O鈥橳oole, but it does seem he may be getting this concept in a way that Andrew Scheer perhaps didn鈥檛.
In a free democracy, we are all entitled to our private religious beliefs. Frankly, we are all still entitled to our private beliefs on most anything.
It鈥檚 only when individuals spout their private views on personal matters 鈥� often, for the explicit purposes of converting others that they should share that view 鈥� that such views become a problem. And they especially become a problem for politicians who either promote specific views because they sincerely believe them or because they see some political advantage in promoting them.
This has become a significant problem for the Conservative Party, a problem that O鈥橳oole needs to address.
Since the demise of the old Progressive Conservative Party that re-emerged without the progressive aspect in their title, some have questioned whether they can form a national government.
Well, clearly they can, as we have seen the past couple decades.
Stephen Harper, who will be seen as the father of the modern-day Conservative Party, certainly held many social conservative views. But that didn鈥檛 prohibit him from leading the then very new party to 10 years in power (albeit, only one of his four elections produced a majority government).
For Harper and his era Conservatives, it was a matter of refocusing on other things like the economy. It was also a matter of being able to address social issues when they come up, as Harper clearly did when he issued an apology to First Nations and Metis survivors of residential schools.
That the CPC, itself, would force Scheer to resign after just one election in which he forced the Justin Trudeau Liberals into minority government territory and secured the most votes was an admission of something that wasn鈥檛 right.
For whatever qualities Scheer demonstrated as a family man who was personally likable, there was uneasiness, both inside and outside the party that he could not be seen to separate his personal beliefs from party policy.
Whatever Harper鈥檚 personal views were on social issues, he defined himself as a fiscal conservative who would not change laws on issues involving things like women鈥檚 reproductive choice or protection of those in the LBGTQ community. (And make no mistake that there was considerable pressure on those inside and outside the caucus to do so.)
Scheer struggled in these areas.听Coupled with the fact that many Canadians were looking for a leader with serious environmental policies, Scheer faced an erosion of trust.
O鈥橳oole seems to determined not to make the same mistake and is perhaps better positioned to not repeat errors.
For starters, his voting record as an MP and minister in Harper鈥檚 government was one of pro-choice and supportive of LBGTQ issues.
In other words, he did not come to the helm of the Conservative party beholding to the social conservatives, although it was evident social conservatives were more comfortable with them than they were with rival Peter MacKay.
O鈥橳oole has also sent out strong early signals his priorities will be Western alienation and support of the oil, gas and agriculture sectors.
This is critical not听just听for the听CPC but also for the听good of the country as a whole.
In his early days, O鈥橳oole is demonstrating he gets it.
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