Are my political views compatible with Catholicism?

[Contrabass101]

I see.

I think there is a big difference in disagreeing with Church Law and disagreeing with a bishop’s opinion on Civil Law, wouldn’t you say so? What if the bishop on the other hand advocates for prayer in public schools?

Pragmatically it is true that my vote doesn’t make any difference. But democracy is more like a firing squad than anything else… that we are acting as a mob doesn’t take away my responsibility.

• CB

 

[Alethiaphile]

Huh?

Was that a question?

 

[USMCatholic]

If the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was among us today, would you have the civil authorities put a fence around it?

God didn’t, so it seems to me, that he wants us to have some degree of freedom.

I would just like to tip my hat to you for that. I think that it’s as near perfect a way of putting as I can think of.
I’ve also struggled with this question before, and have never really gotten a satisfactory answer. The Catholic Church officially advocates things that I oppose, things like universal health care, or welfare programs. I oppose these programs not because I don’t think that the sick or poor shouldn’t be cared for, but because I believe it’s the role of individuals to do so, not the government’s. Now the question is, does that put me at odds with my Catholic faith? I earnestly hope and pray not.
A thought: not only is the Church a church, it is also a country (Vatican City located inside of Rome, Italy). As such, it is also a political entity that has to answer political questions that don’t necessarily have right answers, things like foreign and social policy. It would follow that disagreeing with these views does not put one into a state of ‘rebellion’ or any such thing, just as in any other country you can have dissent and discourse on the floor of parliament, congress, or the streets without it being a case of treason or revolution. Valid line of reasoning?

 

[royal_archer]

…I’ve also struggled with this question before, and have never really gotten a satisfactory answer. The Catholic Church officially advocates things that I oppose, things like universal health care, or welfare programs…

AS much as the church advocates for social justice issues I have not heard much commentary from them on how the governments are to acquire the funds necesary to fund social justice programs. I countries with vast resources such as the oil rich countries, I understand the desire to distribute the funds generated by those resources equitably. But when there are no natural resources owned by the government and the sole source of income is taking from others, it seems to conflict with the commandments.