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Look at Tyrone and conor: they gets their doctrine from their political party. If there is any confict between their party's platform and Church doctrine, party platform controls. And, because they know that there are religious people out there who put doctrine first, they cynically try to use religion to control those people to get them to vote a certain way to increase their party's power. So, yes, as Jim points out, religion can be used by them as a leverage for political control.

And look at all the people who think the Conclave's goal was to put into effect those people's political goals. It is a strange viewpoint. I know someone who actually thinks the conclave was concerned about US domestic politics when they chose Leo, which is a really warped viewpoint.

But religion is supposed to be a tool for self control, not control of others.

Jesus was not a lobbyists or a political activist. He did not seek to use political power to change the world. He used persuasion, not political power (i.e., force). He called on individuals to act voluntarily. And, he did not call individuals to lobby their government to create social programs to make people more comfortable on earth. He called individuals toward personal charity to convert the souls of both giver and receiver to goodness. The earth would be a better place for that, of course, but that earthly benefit was not his goal.

Obviously, personal salvation is paramount for most believers. But I don't think of that very often. I use religion to help me to be a better person now, and i leave salvation to God if he is there. Even if he is not there, i still get what i want out of my belief.(Posting here is not my best behavior, so I do think of quitting this forum ocassionally.)