Classical Liberalism

[dochawk]

I think this still clashes with the Catholic conception of government, albeit in a more subtle way. Civil authority is necessary, but not an evil, since it is derived from the moral order (which is good) and human nature (which is good), and comes from God (who is good). It’s role is not just to prevent harm, but to ensure and attain good for the people under it–to “impel them rightly and orderly to the common good.” (Leo XIII, Diuturnum 11),

Civil order is a good, yes. It’s the government, not disorder, that classic liberals distrust. Again and again over history, governments turn on the people–thus the desire to limit government.

I don’t think that there has ever been a time in the US where there has been enough national religious consensus to agree as to what “common good” the people should be aimed at–but plenty of times where groups have been forced by other groups (e.g., the pilgrims did not come here for religious freedom as US mythology states, but rather because they weren’t allow to impose their version of theocracy on England [or anywhere in Europe else once they left England])

The Liberal conception of religious freedom is different from the Catholic one

What I agree with religiously, and what I would like to happen, aren’t the same as what’s politically possible. Much as I might like a Catholic monarchy, you’d probably have over 90% resistance from the population at large . . . with a homogenous nation, different thing are possible.

hawk

 

[JanSobieskiIII]

Anything that stems from the enlightenment has issues.

 

[starshiptrooper]

Then you have St Paul telling the Christians that freeloaders should not be supported by the community. They discovered pretty quickly that socialism works until you run out of other people’s money.

 

[pnewton]

that freeloaders should not be supported by the community

The closest thing to this is the part where Paul says that the ones who would not work (not could not work), were not to be party of the Church’s charity.

 

[meltzerboy2]

This is interesting stuff, which, I am almost certain, most Americans do not know.

 

[CJS]

Jesus loves gays and lesbians after all he created them just like he created you.

 

[deMontfort]

Jesus loves gays and lesbians after all he created them just like he created you.

Jesus created Satan too…just sayin’

 

[JanSobieskiIII]

I think Barry Goldwater would disagree with that

 

[pnewton]

Good point. I let my Southern bias show. Here, the liberals were Republicans and the Conservatives Democrats. If Cardinal Dolan had a point about the Democratic Party going from a big tent, to a pup tent, the same seems to be true of Republicans. The Rockafellers of the party would no longer be very welcome. Heck, even moderates, in both parties are being ostracized; by the Tea Party movement for the Republicans, and the abortion litmus test now for the Democrats.

 

[JanSobieskiIII]

Our political landscape is bleak, to say the least.