Dutch church leaders have signed a petition against the "exploitation of Christianity" by populist politicians in forthcoming parliamentary elections, as the Catholic bishops' conference urged voters to back parties "contributing to the common good."
"Whether votes go to left or right, the Church will always steer its own course," said the petition, signed by Bishop Gerard de Korte of Den Bosch, Netherlands, and dozens of Catholic and Protestant theologians and pastors.
"The church isn't a political party, nor is any political party a church. We have a separation between church and state – since if the two sit together on anyone's lap, we get a political and religious dictatorship which serves, not God or the people, but only those in power."
