What is the Catholic attitude toward monarchy

[josephback]

I’ve been reading Thomas Paine’s Comon Sense, and he takes a very hard and seemingly logical line against kings. He claims to found this on scripture, but scripture can be abused. So does the church have an official teaching on the right or wrongness of monarchy Thank you.

Second, possibly stupid question: does the Catholic Church affirm the equality of all men and is republican government compatible with the Church? Again, thank you.

 

[JRKH]

What is the Catholic attitude toward monarchy?

The Church is one with Christ as King.

Does the Catholic Church affirm the equality of all men?
Yes in the sense that we are all equal before God and that every live is of value.

Is republican government compatible with the Church?
No - in the sense that the Church is governed not by the “will of the people” but by the “Will of God” and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit under the Kingship of Christ.

This is not to be construed as saying the faithful have no say, no part in the governance of the Church. We all are a part of the community and are encouraged to study to learn and to contribute.

Further this is not to be construed as saying that the Church opposes the republican form of government for other nations or groups.

Peace
James

 

[0129141]

The Church accepts any form of government as long as it protects the rights of the people. This would still reject communism, because this is an inherently evil philosophy of government.

It is interesting to note that Thomas Aquinas believed the best government was a mix of monarchy and a representative body. Look at the governmental bodies of the middle ages. Typically you had a king and a representative body with varying control of the purse. Read Hillare Belloc’s "Europe and the Faith for more on this.

And you should know that Thomas Paine was a bit of a rebel by nature, a deist, and that after the Revolution he lost favor becasue he was critical of Christianity.

 

[josephback]

Further this is not to be construed as saying that the Church opposes the republican form of government for other nations or groups.

That’s the answer to my question, I should have worded it a little differently. I know the Church itself is not a republic

 

[josephback]

The Church accepts any form of government as long as it protects the rights of the people. This would still reject communism, because this is an inherently evil philosophy of government.

Really? That’s cool. As long as it protects the rights of the people…

And you should know that Thomas Paine was a bit of a rebel by nature, a deist, and that after the Revolution he lost favor becasue he was critical of Christianity.

Yes, I know. I heard on his deathbed he greatly, greatly regretted that the Age of Reason had ever been published Death makes one think of judgement.

 

[JRKH]

The Church accepts any form of government as long as it protects the rights of the people. This would still reject communism, because this is an inherently evil philosophy of government.

Without wishing to sidetrack the thread, I’m not sure that we can say that communism is an inherently evil form of government.
First of all because communism is an economic system, not a governmental system.

Secondly I’m not sure that we can claim any philosophy of governmental form or structure as being inherently evil. It is the people running the government that make it evil or not.

Peace
James