Brothers and sisters, in response to the radically conservative sentiments which have hampered constructive Christian efforts in the worldwide Catholic Church, especially in the United States, I would like to address the incompatibility the capitalist system presents to our Catholic faith.
Although many professed Catholics are quick to reject socialism as a solution to the extreme inequity of the world, the same Catholics consistently fail to acknowledge just what an affront to Christianity global Capitalism poses. Let us earnestly compare the Capitalist tenant of “survival of the fittest”, with the Christian tenant of “love thy neighbor as yourself”, and it should become immediately apparent that one cannot support Capitalism and be a Christian in good standing. This is evident by observation of the cruel subjugation, exploitation, and de-facto played out by the mechanisms of Global Capitalism in the cases of numerous countries of South East Asia, Latin America, and indeed in the inner-cities of the United States as well as the Ghettos of Europe.
We are charged as Christians to build the Kingdom of Heaven. Perhaps the first step towards this goal should be tearing down the mechanism of Capitalism which have stratified our world among the rich and poor for much of human history. I pray you my brothers and sisters look earnestly upon my words and provide this thread with the incite of your own consciences.
Modern communism has only really been around for about a century, and the modern interpretation of capitalism a little longer. The practice of either ideology, in the way that they have been practiced in working country/state models is, in my opinion inhumane, either way, and neither group of practitioners seems willing to experiment with something close to a Christian model of economic reality, which you seem to be able to see the possibility of. It’s not all bad for the State to help folks out with a few things that they struggle badly with, so long as it is done for humane purposes, and not as an alternative sort of tyrany. Also, people should be able to derive a profit, and some reasonable satisfaction for excellence and achievement. But modern capitalism is so greedy. There just doesn’t seem to be a reasonable point of stability and satisfaction in capitalists. I don’t pretend to have an answer, but I’d venture to guess that there are economists out there who could divise a system where there is incentive for excellence in individuals. A moderate, but compelling profit availability, but also a cap, or maximum rate of profit, so that profiteering doesn’t become the sole incentive for enterprise, or even life itself, and to where it’s unattractive to actually hurt another person in the pursuit of one’s own self satisfaction. There must also be a way to inspire both private and State institutions to do MUCH more for the impoverished. We can’t allow a full bore welfare state, because the great paradox is that the poor need to exist in some form in order to allow the development of altruistic charity, but we are also supposed to detest this very fact, and do all we can for those who are impoverished. I’m still working out a lot of this stuff in my mind and heart. I’ve found that unchecked capitalism is destroying the USA. Unchecked Communism destroyed the Soviet Union and other communist states. There is a hybrid theory yet to be put into action anywhere that could be based on Christian ethics, but it can’t simply be called Christianity because State’s won’t have something that’s from “religion”. I suspect that some relatively free markets with protections against too much profit, and some reasonable state assisted programs for health, welfare, safety, education. Some “pink” socialism, with a bit more incentive for profit. CanAustralSwedeBritAmerianistic Sociocapitalism with full freedom of travel, religion, and property ownership, where those who go the extra mile, can enjoy a little better life while here on earth, and those who can’t seem to catch a break don’t starve. Where those who are on the cusp have incentive to try their best for a bigger taste of the good life, but if they fail, they can still have a basic and humane lfe, which is, while perhaps painful, since there are reasons for the crosses we bear, is not UNbearable. Where the people won’t feel like having an armed revolution and make things go radically one way or another. Not utopia. It’s impossible, and not correctly Christian either. Utopia light. A good State which protects it’s weakest links, and reasoably caps the uncaring ubercapitalist, so that they never forget from whence they came, and have a true understanding of the fine difference between the state available basic life, and the alternatively available moderately luxurious life. Where there are still poor to help for charities, but not a rediculously large underclass who are a paycheck or two away from starving.
I’m rambling and losing track. I know what I’m trying to say. And not it’s not just like this place or that place. It doesn’t exist right now, and as far as I know, never has. It’s not a perfect utopia, nor is it hell on earth. It’s eh…okay for most folks, and pretty darn sweet for the truly brilliant and industrious. It’s not hell for anybody.
Peace to all,
Steven
