Dari Meja Kultis ke Arena Profetis: Peran Politik Kaum Imam dan Tantangan Pendidikan Agama Kristen

Abstract

The problems of poverty, injustice, social inequality, intergroup conflict, oppression, and corruption remain pressing social realities that demand the Church’s moral and pastoral response. These issues cannot be resolved merely through political power but also require the involvement of the Church, particularly priests, in the politics of social concern. Priests possess cultic and prophetic functions that form the theological foundation for their engagement in public life. However, in pastoral practice, such political involvement often faces both internal and external challenges, especially due to the limited internalization of moral-political education within Christian Religious Education. Consequently, misunderstandings frequently arise regarding the true nature of priestly politics and the extent of their participation in public affairs. This study aims to explain priests’ political attitudes in addressing various social problems by emphasizing their cultic and prophetic functions as moral and theological bases. The research employs a qualitative method with a library research approach through critical analysis of theological literature and Church documents. The findings indicate that priests who cultivate a cultic and prophetic spirituality can develop ethical, critical, and socially transformative political engagement. Therefore, Christian Religious Education must integrate the moral-political dimension into the formation of future priests so that they may embody a politics of social concern rooted in faith, justice, and the love of Christ, the Divine Teacher of Politics.