Americanist Heresy?

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I’ve recently been hearing some self-described Tranitionalist Catholics, like Dr. John Rao and Solange Hertz refer to what they call an “Americanist Heresy”. Can anyone explain what they mean and there arguments for this? What about counter-arguments? I imagine they are arguing that the structure of the American government is contrary to the Catholic faith.
 
Americanism is the idea that Catholicism and the larger American society were incompatible mostly because the various ideologies of America were rooted in liberal Protestantism (i.e. complete separation of church and state, freedom of the press, liberalism, individualism). Obviously this has changed in the last century, as many of these ideas have somewhat embraced by the church, especially American clergy, though the excess of Americanism is still somewhat denounced.
 
Shin said:
catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=7630&CFID=23508052&CFTOKEN=41411389
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During my presence on this forum , from not long time ago , I began to think that American Catholicism is indeed , has its own special features.
I am very thankful to God , that I understand English , because if I wouldn’t understand English , may be I couldn’t be converted and may be couldn’t read on this forum , so much rare and interesting material about religion and spirituality.
In my opinion the American Catholicism is more like - the Evangelical Catholicism . ( I mean in a good meaning of this
word , or lets say – more Charismatic Catholicism )
And this makes the uniqueness of American Catholicism .
About this article , I would say ;
In my opinion – the liberalism and the individualism are the deadly dangers for the future of American Catholicism , and the more conservative it will be , I mean in unity with Rome , the more Catholic it will be.
I think , that definitely - Catholicism can not be the same every where.
And may be after some statements of this article , I shall see more vividly , lets say – certain singularity of ’American Catholicism .
For example , there are the differences , I noticed on this forum , how the American Catholic or the Catholic from the other part of the world would give its statements or react to the questions of materialism , or to the political events in the world .
I personally see on this forum some form of Americanism , when there are the discussions about Capitalism or especially , when there are the discussions about the Middle East conflict , or when there are the discussions about Islam.
I am sure that European or Latin American Catholic in generally would have a different opinions and statements on these topics.
 
Andreas_Hofer said:
I haven’t read it yet, but if you want to know what Americanism is, it is best to go to the pen of the pope who condemned it (Leo XIII):papalencyclicals.net/Leo13/l13teste.htm
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Thank you !
This is great article !
I was thinking about this theme .
During the Church history , there were the times , when there was the support for the slavery , when the Church had a fierce opposition to the usury , rejected ecumenical initiatives , and also forbidden cremation , later through the historical experience , there was a stage when there was the gradual acceptance of capitalism.
The one can agree that the Holy Spirit can speak in a different ways , and its not possible to have like a – ‘monopoly on the Spirit.’
The Spirit as from the biblical phrase ‘ blows where it will’’.
Therefore we can suppose that the truth also might emerge from many places .
The question is ;
-Why there is the conflict of Catholic America with hierarchical Church ?
I would say , Because the society grew up in democratic culture , of American democratic culture .
The people were thought that the freedom of individual is sacred , is sacred for the state , is sacred for God.
The great prosperity was achieved through the freedom , economic freedom , political freedom.
There is a proverb ; - Never judge another’s life until you have walked in their shoes for a day.’’
Its indeed , for many who do not live in U.S. who are not , lets say , in the shoes of the Catholic America , its seems simple to judge about the things which they themselves do not experience and do not face .
In different societies , the people some times are between the choices .
There are the matters , where there is a legitimacy even within Catholic tradition of choosing some times the lesser evils over the greater ones , right ?
Modern advances , including technology , of course often add new problems.
But , whatever amount of economic , scientific , or social progress is , there must be the certain understanding that sin is a sin , and sin will stay a sin , no matter how we call it.
And its not possible to make the virtues from the vices .
Therefore , I will never agree that the Church should change its teaching on sexuality , abortions , gay priesthood , I will not agree that the Church should change its teaching , concerning the women in priesthood .
In my personal conversion experience , very strong argument for conversion was the conservatism of the Rome .
The Rome in my opinion , has miraculously proved , and the time has proved , proved for the Protestantism that – the Catholic Church stayed faithful to the truth , faithful to the truth for which in its own time Protestantism was accusing it.
Otherwise today , the Catholicism would be nothing else but Protestantism in a new clothing.
And I think that the Catholic Church achieved it by the unity , not by arrogance but by its humility.
Therefore I see the great truth in the humility of bishops and theologians to submit to the teaching of the Church of Rome.
 
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