Christian democracy

[Guillaumus]

1. What is the opinion of the Roman Catholic Church on christian democracy and christian democratic parties?
2. What are your thoughts on christian democracy?

 

[Guillaumus]

I thought there was more interest on this topic. Did I post it on the wrong part of the forum?

 

[tonyrey]

I thought there was more interest on this topic. Did I post it on the wrong part of the forum?

It is in the right section but it requires specialised knowledge of the Church’s teaching on democracy… There is a brief summary online:

“Beginning with the Leo XIII’s encyclical Rerum Novarum, the principle of subsidiarity has been “among the most constant and characteristic directives of the Church’s social doctrine” (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church = CSDC 185).
Subsidiarity requires that; Societies of a superior order must adopt attitudes of help (“subsidium”)–therefore support, promotion, development–with respect to lower-order societies. In this way, intermediate social entities can properly perform the functions that fall to them without being required to hand them over unjustly to other social entities of a higher level, by which they would end up being absorbed and substituted, in the end seeing themselves denied their dignity and essential place. (CSDC 186).
The Church acknowledges that it may sometimes be necessary for states to intervene in to supply certain functions. The justification for such intervention is of an exceptional nature and should not continue any longer than is absolutely necessary (CSDC 188)
The Compendium tells us that a clear implication of the principle of subsidiarity is the further principle of “participation” by which “the citizen, either as an individual or in association with others, whether directly or through representation, contributes to the cultural, economic, political and social life of the civil community to which he belongs” (CSDC 189). Participation is considered one of the highest aspiration of the citizen and “one of the pillars of democratic orders and one of the major guarantees of the democratic system” (CSDC 190). In fact every democracy must by definition be participative (CSDC 190, (Centesimus annus, 46). Participation is a common duty and responsibility, fulfilled consciously with a view to the common good. Participation can be achieved in a variety of social contexts, but is essential to democracy and jeopardized by totalitarian or dictatorial regimes, “where the fundamental right to participate in public life is denied at its origin, since it is considered a threat to the State itself. (CSDC 191, CA 44-45). The compendium also warns that even in otherwise democratic countries burgeoning bureaucracy can effectively deny the citizens an active part in social and political life. (CSDC 191).”

bishophelmsinginstitute.typepad.com/the_official_bishop_helms/2010/08/catholic-social-teaching-on-democracy.html

 

[Dale_M]

I thought there was more interest on this topic. Did I post it on the wrong part of the forum?

I think the Philosophy forum is a reasonable place for this thread, although the Social Justice forum might have also worked.

Perhaps the reason for the lack of responses is because membership of CAF is overwhelmingly American, and the US does not have a tradition of Christian Democracy (at least as I understand it.)

So to spark the conversation, perhaps we need to define what we are discussing? I will offer a quote from the Wikipedia article, just to get the ball rolling.

Christian democracy is a political ideology that seeks to apply Christian principles to public policy. It emerged in nineteenth-century Europe under the influence of conservatism and Catholic social teaching.[1] It continues to be influential in Europe and Latin America, though in a number of countries its Christian ethos has been diluted by secularisation.

In practice, Christian democracy is often considered conservative on cultural, social and moral issues (social conservatism) and advocates a social market economy in the economic field (crossing over with social democratic economics but based on the family). In Europe, where their opponents have traditionally been secularist socialists, Christian democratic parties are moderately conservative overall, whereas in the very different cultural and political environment of Latin America they tend to lean to the left.

Examples of Christian democratic parties include the German Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the Christian Democrat Party of Chile, the Christian Democratic People’s Party of Switzerland, the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) in the Netherlands and the historical Christian Democracy in Italy.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_democracy

 

[Guillaumus]

I think the Philosophy forum is a reasonable place for this thread, although the Social Justice forum might have also worked.

Perhaps the reason for the lack of responses is because membership of CAF is overwhelmingly American, and the US does not have a tradition of Christian Democracy (at least as I understand it.)

So to spark the conversation, perhaps we need to define what we are discussing? I will offer a quote from the Wikipedia article, just to get the ball rolling.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_democracy

Maybe in the United States of America Christian democracy isn’t really used to define a political ideology, as you said. But I see the USA as a country with deep (and sometimes radical) Christian values and an example of a democracy. After all I have the impression that the pro-life/pro-choice debate weighs very heavy on the national politics.

Christian democracy is to me the application of Christian values and moral, using Bible and tradition as guideline, in politics.

 

[tonyrey]

Maybe in the United States of America Christian democracy isn’t really used to define a political ideology, as you said. But I see the USA as a country with deep (and sometimes radical) Christian values and an example of a democracy. After all I have the impression that the pro-life/pro-choice debate weighs very heavy on the national politics.

Christian democracy is to me the application of Christian values and moral, using Bible and tradition as guideline, in politics.

I strongly believe that the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity are based on the teaching of Jesus. It follows inevitably that we should all have some say in how our society is organized.