Nations under God

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In some religious countries, churches have significant influence over constitutions, abortion laws, and education, while in others, their impact on public policy is minimal. This analysis explores how the fusion of religious and national identities grants churches substantial moral authority and covert access to institutions, allowing them to shape policy through private channels rather than democratic processes. By examining six Christian democracies—Ireland, Italy, Poland, Croatia, the United States, and Canada—Anna Grzymała-Busse reveals how churches affect issues like education, abortion, divorce, stem cell research, and same-sex marriage. She posits that churches gain political leverage by maintaining an appearance of being above politics, which helps preserve their moral authority and reputation as defenders of national interests. The book illustrates how church leaders in Ireland, Canada, and Poland have directly influenced legislation, vetoed policies, and vetted officials. It also highlights that mere religiosity does not guarantee political influence; for instance, churches in Italy and Croatia are less impactful than expected, while those allied with political parties in the U.S. wield less power than their reputation suggests.