Are Catholics still forbidden from becoming Communists

[SeanF1989]

The Decree against Communism is a 1949 Catholic Church document (by Pope Pius XII) which excommunicates all Catholics collaborating in communist organizations.

Is this still part of Church teaching today?

 

[DexUK]

I would suppose it depends on whether the nature of organisations calling themselves ‘Communist’ has changed or not and/or whether the decree has been formally ‘annulled’.

 

[aicirt]

Communisium promotes the state as being the sole provider and is anti-God and all religions. No Catholic would want to be a communist. There is no religious freedom in N. Korea, China, Burma, and Cuba. Not until Pope John-Paul II, and President Regan did we see the demise of the Soviet bloc and the return of religion.

 

[chevalier]

Please note that one doesn’t need to be a communist to support social justice and campaign for it. The Church knows more of and has done more for it than the communist parties.

 

[Saburo]

Please note that one doesn’t need to be a communist to support social justice and campaign for it.

Communism doesn’t support social justice either. It supports oppression, mass murderer, starvation, theft of resources from one group to another, and an elite class of party officials. At least that is the way communism has always played out. I’m sure someone will disagree, but these are the same people who always refuse to actually move to a communist country rather than agitate for turning a non-communist country into another soulless black abyss.

 

[Buck_Crosswhite]

Since Communism is an atheist religion I would have to say the Church hasn’t changed its stance.

 

[Neildown]

Communism is always told to be the best governmental “solution” but the problem is, it takes God out of the equation. That being said, it isn’t possible whether you believe in God or not because too many other people believe in Him. It might be the best solution but it simply isn’t possible to arrange. That being said, I wouldn’t even bother trying it. 'Cause I’m certainly not going to help with it.

 

[Monte_RCMS]

Visit Amazon and read “The Black Book of Communism”.

Supporters of Communism do not like to discuss real life.

You can also visit www.mindszenty.org and ask for a copy of “The Philosophy of Communism” by McFadden.

mindszenty.org/Books_Booklets.aspx

“The Philosophy of Communism” is $2. Their other book sale offerings are excellent, as well.

In addition, you can read “Divini Redemptoris” … Atheistic Communism … the Encyclical Letter of Pope Pius XI.

No substitute for doing the reading.

 

[martininthefiel]

The Church opposes all Utopian philosophies, of which Communism is one. Communism is at its root an atheistic idea. Totalitarianism puts the state above all, and thus is antithetical to human dignity and freedom.

However, take note that the Holy Father is scheduled to visit Cuba later this year.

By Communist, we mean Marxist Communist, not all left-of-center politics. Social Justice, and concern for the poor and society’s most vulnerable is very much at the heart of Catholic teaching. The words ‘communist’ and ‘socialist’ often get tossed about carelessly. We need to be careful not to engage in *ad hominen * attack.

The Church has historically been suspicious of Capitalism, as well, though not to the same extent. Whenever we put ideology above all, we run the risk of putting mammon before God. It is a kind of idolatry. Among the things that sell well in the marketplace are abortion, drugs and prostitution. Do we legalise these because they are successful commodities?

 

[estesbob]

The Church opposes all Utopian philosophies, of which Communism is one. Communism is at its root an atheistic idea. Totalitarianism puts the state above all, and thus is antithetical to human dignity and freedom.

However, take note that the Holy Father is scheduled to visit Cuba later this year.

By Communist, we mean Marxist Communist, not all left-of-center politics. Social Justice, and concern for the poor and society’s most vulnerable is very much at the heart of Catholic teaching. The words ‘communist’ and ‘socialist’ often get tossed about carelessly. We need to be careful not to engage in *ad hominen *attack.

?

The Church condemns socialism as stringently as it does Communism:

*To remedy these wrongs the socialists, working on the poor man’s envy of the rich, are striving to do away with private property, and contend that individual possessions should become the common property of all, to be administered by the State or by municipal bodies. They hold that by thus transferring property from private individuals to the community, the present mischievous state of things will be set to rights, inasmuch as each citizen will then get his fair share of whatever there is to enjoy. But their contentions are so clearly powerless to end the controversy that were they carried into effect the working man himself would be among the first to suffer. They are, moreover, emphatically unjust, for they would rob the lawful possessor, distort the functions of the State, and create utter confusion in the community. *

vatican.va/holy_father/leo_xiii/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum_en.html

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Since Communism is an atheist religion I would have to say the Church hasn’t changed its stance.

And capitalism is a Christian religion, right?

sigh Communism is an economic theory, not a religion. As for “atheistic religions”, well, I really can’t name any.

 

[someperson555]

And capitalism is a Christian religion, right?

sigh Communism is an economic theory, not a religion. As for “atheistic religions”, well, I really can’t name any.

i agree, as a catholic and a socialist, im very disturbed to see how many catholics are taking the side of capitalism, but the facts are that capitalism actually WORSE than communism! dont get me wrong i HATE BOTH capitalism and communism, but is the church seriously going to stand by these robber-barons who have exploited the working people for centuries?? as i have stated before, i am NOT a communist, I am a left-wing nationalist, but i can UNDERSTAND all those who join the communists and fight for their cause.

 

[estesbob]

i agree, as a catholic and a socialist, im very disturbed to see how many catholics are taking the side of capitalism, but the facts are that capitalism actually WORSE than communism! dont get me wrong i HATE BOTH capitalism and communism, but is the church seriously going to stand by these robber-barons who have exploited the working people for centuries?? as i have stated before, i am NOT a communist, I am a left-wing nationalist, but i can UNDERSTAND all those who join the communists and fight for their cause.

The Church condemns socialism as much as communisn

 

[someperson555]

The Church condemns socialism as much as communisn

first of all i dont think it does, many non-marxist socialists in the past were devout catholics. and the church has developed left-wing ideologies of it’s own, such a distributionism and corporatism.
second even if it does, it doesnt make it correct. this is why the church should just stick to theology and philosophy, because the sad truth is that the church’'s understanding of the economy, state, and politics have always been limited. i have studied socialist philosophies, and i must point out that communism is a STATELESS society, so the notion that its “totalitarian” is incorrect. yes its true that in communism theory and practice are two different things, but if we focus on theory, then communism is stateless. although communism is still intrinsically flawed because its based on class conflict. but the fact is that we NEED the state to step in and regulate private property. and yes, there must be some degree of profit sharing, because its the worker after all who builds up the nation, not the factory owner.
by the way, the church probably only condemned socialism, because of its ties to atheism.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

The issue of capitalism vs. communism or socialism is so played out. Clearly none of these models work. And frankly, why would they? We are pitting 17th century ideas against 18th century ones and expecting them to solve 21st century problems. Do I have a better idea? No, but I’m not an economist. Its about time we start tapping some of the brightest minds in the world to come up with a new system that will serve us the most justly and bring the most prosperity possible.

 

[rmills1]

Communism and Socialism work to suppress the free will of the individual in favor of the “general will” of the society. It thereby reduces the ambition/achievement/productiveness of the individual.
This in turn leads to a scarcity over time of essential manufactured/agrarian products needed for healthy living.

We have seen this in the Soviet Union and continue to see this in Cuba.

 

[estesbob]

first of all i dont think it does, many non-marxist socialists in the past were devout catholics. and the church has developed left-wing ideologies of it’s own, such a distributionism and corporatism.
second even if it does, it doesnt make it correct. this is why the church should just stick to theology and philosophy, because the sad truth is that the church’'s understanding of the economy, state, and politics have always been limited. i have studied socialist philosophies, and i must point out that communism is a STATELESS society, so the notion that its “totalitarian” is incorrect. yes its true that in communism theory and practice are two different things, but if we focus on theory, then communism is stateless. although communism is still intrinsically flawed because its based on class conflict. but the fact is that we NEED the state to step in and regulate private property. and yes, there must be some degree of profit sharing, because its the worker after all who builds up the nation, not the factory owner.
by the way, the church probably only condemned socialism, because of its ties to atheism.

See post #10 As Cathoics we don’t get to reject Church teaching in favor of our political views

 

[BlueEyedLady]

The issue of capitalism vs. communism or socialism is so played out. Clearly none of these models work. And frankly, why would they? We are pitting 17th century ideas against 18th century ones and expecting them to solve 21st century problems. Do I have a better idea? No, but I’m not an economist. Its about time we start tapping some of the brightest minds in the world to come up with a new system that will serve us the most justly and bring the most prosperity possible.

 

[Dakota_Roberts]

The issue of capitalism vs. communism or socialism is so played out. Clearly none of these models work. And frankly, why would they? We are pitting 17th century ideas against 18th century ones and expecting them to solve 21st century problems. Do I have a better idea? No, but I’m not an economist. Its about time we start tapping some of the brightest minds in the world to come up with a new system that will serve us the most justly and bring the most prosperity possible.

Been there, done that, it’s called distributism

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Been there, done that, it’s called distributism

So you’re turning a false dichotomy in to a false trichotomy? There are many, many economic theories in existence, and even more that have yet to be thought up. It doesn’t come down to a few select buzzwords like everyone thinks it does.