<\/p>\n
by Deacon Mike Leman<\/span><\/h5>\nLegislative Liaison, Diocese of Cheyenne<\/span><\/h5>\n <\/p>\n
\n![\"Deacon](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Deacon-Mike-Leman.webp\")
<\/p>\n
Deacon Mike Leman of the Diocese of Cheyenne<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Extremism Leads to Misperceptions<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Recently, my wife and I met a new friend at a social gathering. Upon introduction, we exchanged the usual pleasantries. When she learned that I work for the Diocese of Cheyenne as the legislative liaison in the Office of Catholic Social Teaching she replied, \u201cCatholic Social Teaching is just the Church\u2019s way of pushing socialism on us.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nI hear this often. When I asked her where she had gotten that idea, it became clear that she had never actually read a papal encyclical or anything that explains the Church\u2019s social teachings. Our new friend simply was repeating what she had heard from someone else.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe Church Condemns Extremism in all Forms<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
The greatest challenge to responding to the claim that Catholic Social Teaching promotes socialism is deciding where to begin. Perhaps no other institution in the world has been more openly critical of socialism than the Catholic Church. While the intentions of many who put their hope in socialism may be good, the means through which socialism tries to achieve those ends are, according to Catholic Social Teaching, unacceptable.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWe need to understand that Catholics live within every kind of political system in the world; we also need to understand that the Catholic Church has outlasted many political systems. Important to note is that the Church does not promote any particular political system, nor does it support one particular political party in the United States. The Church highlights the good that She sees wherever She sees it, and the Church names problems She sees wherever She sees them. For emphasis, and in the interest of brevity, I will share some of the more strongly worded condemnations against socialism that popes have made, but many more have been written.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nFirst, I\u2019d like to share a quote from Pope Leo XIII\u2019s 1901 encyclical, Graves De Communi Re<\/em> (On Christian Democracy), where he teaches that Catholics cannot pursue justice for the purpose of promoting a particular government, \u201cThe laws of nature and of the Gospel\u2026are necessarily independent of all particular forms of civil government, while at the same time they are in harmony with everything that is not repugnant to morality and justice. They are, therefore, and they must remain absolutely free from the passions and the vicissitudes of parties, so that, under whatever political constitution, the citizens may and ought to abide by those laws which command them to love God above all things, and their neighbors as themselves. This always has been the policy of the Church. The Roman Pontiffs acted upon this principle, whenever they dealt with different countries, no matter the character of their governments. Hence, the mind and the action of Catholics devoted to promoting the welfare of the working classes can never be actuated with the purpose of favoring and introducing one government in place of another\u201d. (Pope Leo XIII, 7)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIn Quadragesimo Anno<\/em> (1931), Pope Pius XI wrote, \u201cIf Socialism, like all errors, contains some truth (which, moreover, the Supreme Pontiffs have never denied), it is based nevertheless on a theory of human society peculiar to itself and irreconcilable with true Christianity\u201d (n. 120). He continued, \u201cAnd so\u2026having surveyed the present economic system, we have found it laboring under the gravest of evils. We have also summoned Communism and Socialism again to judgment and have found all their forms, even the most modified, to wander far from the precepts of the Gospel\u201d. (Pope Pius XI, 128)<\/a><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIn 1961, St. John XXIII referenced Pope Pius\u2019 encyclical Quadragesimo Anno<\/em> in Mater et Magistra<\/em>. \u201cPope Pius XI further emphasized the fundamental opposition between Communism and Christianity and made it clear that no Catholic could subscribe even to moderate Socialism. The reason is that Socialism is founded on a doctrine of human society which is bounded by time and takes no account of any objective other than that of material well-being. Since, therefore, it proposes a form of social organization which aims solely at production, it places too severe a restraint on human liberty, at the same time flouting the true notion of social authority\u201d. (Pope St. John XIII, 34)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe Church is for Good Government<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Do these criticisms of socialism mean that the Church is against all state and federal social programs? No, it does not. The principle of subsidiarity indicates that \u201clarger institutions in society should not overwhelm or interfere with smaller or local institutions, yet larger institutions have essential responsibilities when the more local institutions cannot adequately protect human dignity, meet human needs, and advance the common good\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 48)<\/a><\/span><\/span>; (Pope St. Paul VI, 4-6)<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIn other words, if the intention behind creating a government-funded social program is to establish citizen dependence on the government and take the country one step closer to socialism, that is not acceptable. In the same way, ignoring human dignity until we can fix the \u201csmaller, local institution\u201d (most notably the family) is not acceptable either. Letting the poor and vulnerable perish until we figure out how to protect them with non-governmental means is not an acceptable solution through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nFor 2000 years, the Catholic Church has manifested a special concern for the poor and the vulnerable. This is a central tenet of our faith. While some Catholics do not want to hear about how creating government dependence threatens to put us on a slippery slope toward the evils of socialism, other Catholics do not want to see the poor and vulnerable in their communities or hear how local institutions are failing them. Catholics should not consider the care for those in need with an \u201ceither or\u201d mentality.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWe live in a state that is trending more libertarian than traditional conservative, and, in many circles, the suggestion that government programs are necessary is viewed as heresy. Government is necessary, however, even in a free market society. We need infrastructure; we cannot do everything at the state level; we need checks and balances to ensure fairness.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThink about large corporations that are forcing political ideologies onto small businesses. Think about how some of them are impacting state sovereignty by boycotting states that pass prolife bills like the heartbeat bill in Texas.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nUnbridled Capitalism<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
The above statements are not examples of big government; they are examples of \u201cunbridled capitalism\u201d of which Catholic Social Teaching also is very critical. <\/span><\/span>Some of those corporations spend millions of dollars to lobby against government oversight, which sounds like a very libertarian approach, but then they turn right around and force states and individuals to bow under their financial pressure.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nSt. John Paul II spoke of unbridled capitalism when he said, \u201c[Capitalism] seeks to defeat Marxism on the level of pure materialism by showing how a free-market society can achieve a greater satisfaction of material human needs than Communism, while equally excluding spiritual values. In reality, while on the one hand it is true that this social model shows the failure of Marxism to contribute to a humane and better society, on the other hand, insofar as it denies an autonomous existence and value to morality, law, culture and religion, it agrees with Marxism, in the sense that it totally reduces man to the sphere of economics and the satisfaction of material needs.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nI have seen the denial of \u201cvalue to morality, law, culture and religion\u201d and the reduction of \u201cman to the sphere of economics\u201d in Wyoming with the push for \u201csin taxes\u201d like online sports betting and the effort to legalize recreational marijuana.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe arguments for passing such laws at the Wyoming Legislature follow a similar trend. They often begin by acknowledging that the idea itself is morally questionable followed by a personal disclaimer such as, \u201cI personally don\u2019t gamble, but…\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nNext, liberty is described with such sacred terms that a mere inquiry about how such a law could impact social responsibility seems sacrilegious. \u201cEven though I would never do it, far be it from me to say what someone else should or should not do.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThen, just when the room is mesmerized by the thought of absolute autonomy, we hear, \u201cThen, we could tax it.\u201d There is the hook. Remember, we\u2019ve said we won\u2019t all be contributing to these particular taxes because we don\u2019t all gamble. So, the \u201cplan\u201d is to balance the budget with other people\u2019s money, which is one of the tenants of socialism that many people detest. In the name of liberty, we say it is ok to pass bills that knowingly put vulnerable families (\u201cthe smaller, local institution\u201d that is best situated to meet the needs of individual members) under greater duress.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nCatholic Social Teaching Brings Clarity<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
This is one example of how looking through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching brings clarity to a situation.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nI don\u2019t know if I was able to convince our new friend that her perception of Catholic Social Teaching is a misperception. In truth, Catholic Social Teaching is a treasure-trove of wisdom gained by the Church throughout the ages and gifted to us today. But it shouldn\u2019t surprise us that the spiritual enemy of Christ and His Church would create fear by portraying the antidote to our social problems as a poison. If this article has done nothing else, I hope it inspires you to visit my webpage and read the papal encyclicals for yourselves. (https:\/\/dioceseofcheyenne.org\/catholic-social-teaching<\/a>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nDeacon Mike Leman completed the residential<\/em> CAPP-USA\/Catholic University of America Certificate Program in Catholic Social Teaching<\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0in<\/em> October 2021 and is the Legislative Liaison for the Diocese of Cheyenne (which encompasses the entire state of Wyoming). This article originally appeared in the Wyoming Catholic Register and is reprinted with the author\u2019s permission.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nMarxism vs. CST: Where They Overlap<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWhat is Socialism?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWhat is Democratic Socialism?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nCapitalism vs. Socialism<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWas Jesus a Socialist?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nSocialist Countries and Welfare States<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nKarl Marx and the Catholic Church<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”\/socialism\/” button_text=”More about Socialism” button_alignment=”center” module_class=”hover-btn-border” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”30px” button_text_color=”#054368″ button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|600||on|||||” button_icon=”5||divi||400″ button_on_hover=”off” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#054368″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”\/articles” button_text=”Back to Articles” button_alignment=”center” module_class=”hover-btn-border” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”30px” button_text_color=”#054368″ button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|600||on|||||” button_icon=”5||divi||400″ button_on_hover=”off” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#054368″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Widget of Issues ” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px||” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,3_5,1_5″ use_custom_gutter=”on” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.13.0″ width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” custom_css_main_element=”width: 100% !important;” make_fullwidth=”on” global_module=”31023″ saved_tabs=”all” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_slider show_image_video_mobile=”on” module_class=”three-principles” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ header_font=”Open Sans|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#084369″ header_font_size=”24px” header_line_height=”1.5em” body_text_color=”#084369″ width=”100%” width_last_edited=”off|desktop” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|||” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_slide_image_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_slide_image_phone=”width: auto;||margin: 0 auto !important;”][et_pb_slide heading=”Three Key Principles” button_link=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/catholic-social-teaching-principles\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Three-Principles.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” image_alt=”Three circles containing symbols of the three principles of catholic social teaching: human dignity, subsidiarity, and solidarity.” image_tablet=”” image_phone=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/3-Key-principle-icons-resized.png” image_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” z_index=”0″ overflow-x=”hidden” overflow-y=”hidden” link_option_url=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/catholic-social-teaching-principles\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 300px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n
Catholic social teaching is built on three foundational principles –\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity<\/strong>,\u00a0Solidarity\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Subsidiarity.\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity, embodied in a correct understanding of the human person, is the greatest. The others flow from it. Good governments and good economic systems find ways of fostering the three principles.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide heading=”Human Dignity” button_link=”\/human-dignity\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Human-Dignity.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” link_option_url=”\/human-dignity\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 200px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n
This means a correct understanding of the human person and of each person\u2019s unique value. All Catholic social teaching flows from this: the inherent dignity of every person that comes from being made in God\u2019s image.\u00a0<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide heading=”Solidarity” button_link=”\/solidarity\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Solidarity.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” link_option_url=”\/solidarity\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 200px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n
Solidarity is not \u201ca feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of others. It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a> Love of God and love of neighbor are, in fact, linked and form one, single commandment.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide heading=”Subsidiarity” button_link=”\/subsidiarity\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Subsidiarity.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” link_option_url=”\/subsidiarity\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 200px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n
Subsidiarity \u201cis a fundamental principle of social philosophy, fixed and unchangeable, that one should not withdraw from individuals and commit to the community what they can accomplish by their own enterprise and industry. So, too, it is an injustice and at the same time a grave evil and a disturbance of right order to transfer to the larger and higher collectivity functions which can be performed and provided for by the lesser and subordinate bodies\u201d. (Pope Pius XI)<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_slide][\/et_pb_slider][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” admin_label=”Image & Text” module_id=”newsletter” module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_color=”#eb7525″ z_index=”950″ display_conditions=”W3siaWQiOiI2MmUwMjk2ZS1lYmY5LTQwYWYtYmM0Mi0zZmEzYzUyNGNlYTEiLCJjb25kaXRpb24iOiJwYWdlIiwiY29uZGl0aW9uU2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiZGlzcGxheVJ1bGUiOiJpc05vdCIsImR5bmFtaWNQb3N0cyI6W3sibGFiZWwiOiJDYXJpdGFzIGluIFZlcml0YXRlIiwidmFsdWUiOiI0NzIxNCJ9XSwicG9zdFR5cGVMYWJlbCI6IlBhZ2VzIiwiYWRtaW5MYWJlbCI6IlBhZ2VzIiwiZW5hYmxlQ29uZGl0aW9uIjoib24ifSwib3BlcmF0b3IiOiJPUiJ9XQ==” custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”0px||0px||false|false” animation_direction=”left” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_module=”45073″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ make_equal=”on” module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”200ms” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Playfair Display||||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#eb7525″ header_2_text_color=”#ffffff” header_3_text_color=”#ffffff” header_3_font_size=”30px” header_4_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” header_4_text_color=”#ffffff” header_4_font_size=”32px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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Deacon Mike Leman of the Diocese of Cheyenne<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Extremism Leads to Misperceptions<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Recently, my wife and I met a new friend at a social gathering. Upon introduction, we exchanged the usual pleasantries. When she learned that I work for the Diocese of Cheyenne as the legislative liaison in the Office of Catholic Social Teaching she replied, \u201cCatholic Social Teaching is just the Church\u2019s way of pushing socialism on us.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nI hear this often. When I asked her where she had gotten that idea, it became clear that she had never actually read a papal encyclical or anything that explains the Church\u2019s social teachings. Our new friend simply was repeating what she had heard from someone else.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe Church Condemns Extremism in all Forms<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
The greatest challenge to responding to the claim that Catholic Social Teaching promotes socialism is deciding where to begin. Perhaps no other institution in the world has been more openly critical of socialism than the Catholic Church. While the intentions of many who put their hope in socialism may be good, the means through which socialism tries to achieve those ends are, according to Catholic Social Teaching, unacceptable.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWe need to understand that Catholics live within every kind of political system in the world; we also need to understand that the Catholic Church has outlasted many political systems. Important to note is that the Church does not promote any particular political system, nor does it support one particular political party in the United States. The Church highlights the good that She sees wherever She sees it, and the Church names problems She sees wherever She sees them. For emphasis, and in the interest of brevity, I will share some of the more strongly worded condemnations against socialism that popes have made, but many more have been written.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nFirst, I\u2019d like to share a quote from Pope Leo XIII\u2019s 1901 encyclical, Graves De Communi Re<\/em> (On Christian Democracy), where he teaches that Catholics cannot pursue justice for the purpose of promoting a particular government, \u201cThe laws of nature and of the Gospel\u2026are necessarily independent of all particular forms of civil government, while at the same time they are in harmony with everything that is not repugnant to morality and justice. They are, therefore, and they must remain absolutely free from the passions and the vicissitudes of parties, so that, under whatever political constitution, the citizens may and ought to abide by those laws which command them to love God above all things, and their neighbors as themselves. This always has been the policy of the Church. The Roman Pontiffs acted upon this principle, whenever they dealt with different countries, no matter the character of their governments. Hence, the mind and the action of Catholics devoted to promoting the welfare of the working classes can never be actuated with the purpose of favoring and introducing one government in place of another\u201d. (Pope Leo XIII, 7)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIn Quadragesimo Anno<\/em> (1931), Pope Pius XI wrote, \u201cIf Socialism, like all errors, contains some truth (which, moreover, the Supreme Pontiffs have never denied), it is based nevertheless on a theory of human society peculiar to itself and irreconcilable with true Christianity\u201d (n. 120). He continued, \u201cAnd so\u2026having surveyed the present economic system, we have found it laboring under the gravest of evils. We have also summoned Communism and Socialism again to judgment and have found all their forms, even the most modified, to wander far from the precepts of the Gospel\u201d. (Pope Pius XI, 128)<\/a><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIn 1961, St. John XXIII referenced Pope Pius\u2019 encyclical Quadragesimo Anno<\/em> in Mater et Magistra<\/em>. \u201cPope Pius XI further emphasized the fundamental opposition between Communism and Christianity and made it clear that no Catholic could subscribe even to moderate Socialism. The reason is that Socialism is founded on a doctrine of human society which is bounded by time and takes no account of any objective other than that of material well-being. Since, therefore, it proposes a form of social organization which aims solely at production, it places too severe a restraint on human liberty, at the same time flouting the true notion of social authority\u201d. (Pope St. John XIII, 34)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe Church is for Good Government<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Do these criticisms of socialism mean that the Church is against all state and federal social programs? No, it does not. The principle of subsidiarity indicates that \u201clarger institutions in society should not overwhelm or interfere with smaller or local institutions, yet larger institutions have essential responsibilities when the more local institutions cannot adequately protect human dignity, meet human needs, and advance the common good\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 48)<\/a><\/span><\/span>; (Pope St. Paul VI, 4-6)<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIn other words, if the intention behind creating a government-funded social program is to establish citizen dependence on the government and take the country one step closer to socialism, that is not acceptable. In the same way, ignoring human dignity until we can fix the \u201csmaller, local institution\u201d (most notably the family) is not acceptable either. Letting the poor and vulnerable perish until we figure out how to protect them with non-governmental means is not an acceptable solution through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nFor 2000 years, the Catholic Church has manifested a special concern for the poor and the vulnerable. This is a central tenet of our faith. While some Catholics do not want to hear about how creating government dependence threatens to put us on a slippery slope toward the evils of socialism, other Catholics do not want to see the poor and vulnerable in their communities or hear how local institutions are failing them. Catholics should not consider the care for those in need with an \u201ceither or\u201d mentality.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWe live in a state that is trending more libertarian than traditional conservative, and, in many circles, the suggestion that government programs are necessary is viewed as heresy. Government is necessary, however, even in a free market society. We need infrastructure; we cannot do everything at the state level; we need checks and balances to ensure fairness.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThink about large corporations that are forcing political ideologies onto small businesses. Think about how some of them are impacting state sovereignty by boycotting states that pass prolife bills like the heartbeat bill in Texas.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nUnbridled Capitalism<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
The above statements are not examples of big government; they are examples of \u201cunbridled capitalism\u201d of which Catholic Social Teaching also is very critical. <\/span><\/span>Some of those corporations spend millions of dollars to lobby against government oversight, which sounds like a very libertarian approach, but then they turn right around and force states and individuals to bow under their financial pressure.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nSt. John Paul II spoke of unbridled capitalism when he said, \u201c[Capitalism] seeks to defeat Marxism on the level of pure materialism by showing how a free-market society can achieve a greater satisfaction of material human needs than Communism, while equally excluding spiritual values. In reality, while on the one hand it is true that this social model shows the failure of Marxism to contribute to a humane and better society, on the other hand, insofar as it denies an autonomous existence and value to morality, law, culture and religion, it agrees with Marxism, in the sense that it totally reduces man to the sphere of economics and the satisfaction of material needs.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nI have seen the denial of \u201cvalue to morality, law, culture and religion\u201d and the reduction of \u201cman to the sphere of economics\u201d in Wyoming with the push for \u201csin taxes\u201d like online sports betting and the effort to legalize recreational marijuana.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe arguments for passing such laws at the Wyoming Legislature follow a similar trend. They often begin by acknowledging that the idea itself is morally questionable followed by a personal disclaimer such as, \u201cI personally don\u2019t gamble, but…\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nNext, liberty is described with such sacred terms that a mere inquiry about how such a law could impact social responsibility seems sacrilegious. \u201cEven though I would never do it, far be it from me to say what someone else should or should not do.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThen, just when the room is mesmerized by the thought of absolute autonomy, we hear, \u201cThen, we could tax it.\u201d There is the hook. Remember, we\u2019ve said we won\u2019t all be contributing to these particular taxes because we don\u2019t all gamble. So, the \u201cplan\u201d is to balance the budget with other people\u2019s money, which is one of the tenants of socialism that many people detest. In the name of liberty, we say it is ok to pass bills that knowingly put vulnerable families (\u201cthe smaller, local institution\u201d that is best situated to meet the needs of individual members) under greater duress.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nCatholic Social Teaching Brings Clarity<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
This is one example of how looking through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching brings clarity to a situation.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nI don\u2019t know if I was able to convince our new friend that her perception of Catholic Social Teaching is a misperception. In truth, Catholic Social Teaching is a treasure-trove of wisdom gained by the Church throughout the ages and gifted to us today. But it shouldn\u2019t surprise us that the spiritual enemy of Christ and His Church would create fear by portraying the antidote to our social problems as a poison. If this article has done nothing else, I hope it inspires you to visit my webpage and read the papal encyclicals for yourselves. (https:\/\/dioceseofcheyenne.org\/catholic-social-teaching<\/a>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nDeacon Mike Leman completed the residential<\/em> CAPP-USA\/Catholic University of America Certificate Program in Catholic Social Teaching<\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0in<\/em> October 2021 and is the Legislative Liaison for the Diocese of Cheyenne (which encompasses the entire state of Wyoming). This article originally appeared in the Wyoming Catholic Register and is reprinted with the author\u2019s permission.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nMarxism vs. CST: Where They Overlap<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWhat is Socialism?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWhat is Democratic Socialism?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nCapitalism vs. Socialism<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWas Jesus a Socialist?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nSocialist Countries and Welfare States<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nKarl Marx and the Catholic Church<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”\/socialism\/” button_text=”More about Socialism” button_alignment=”center” module_class=”hover-btn-border” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”30px” button_text_color=”#054368″ button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|600||on|||||” button_icon=”5||divi||400″ button_on_hover=”off” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#054368″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”\/articles” button_text=”Back to Articles” button_alignment=”center” module_class=”hover-btn-border” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”30px” button_text_color=”#054368″ button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|600||on|||||” button_icon=”5||divi||400″ button_on_hover=”off” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#054368″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Widget of Issues ” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px||” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,3_5,1_5″ use_custom_gutter=”on” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.13.0″ width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” custom_css_main_element=”width: 100% !important;” make_fullwidth=”on” global_module=”31023″ saved_tabs=”all” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_slider show_image_video_mobile=”on” module_class=”three-principles” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ header_font=”Open Sans|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#084369″ header_font_size=”24px” header_line_height=”1.5em” body_text_color=”#084369″ width=”100%” width_last_edited=”off|desktop” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|||” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_slide_image_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_slide_image_phone=”width: auto;||margin: 0 auto !important;”][et_pb_slide heading=”Three Key Principles” button_link=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/catholic-social-teaching-principles\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Three-Principles.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” image_alt=”Three circles containing symbols of the three principles of catholic social teaching: human dignity, subsidiarity, and solidarity.” image_tablet=”” image_phone=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/3-Key-principle-icons-resized.png” image_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” z_index=”0″ overflow-x=”hidden” overflow-y=”hidden” link_option_url=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/catholic-social-teaching-principles\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 300px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n
Catholic social teaching is built on three foundational principles –\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity<\/strong>,\u00a0Solidarity\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Subsidiarity.\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity, embodied in a correct understanding of the human person, is the greatest. The others flow from it. Good governments and good economic systems find ways of fostering the three principles.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide heading=”Human Dignity” button_link=”\/human-dignity\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Human-Dignity.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” link_option_url=”\/human-dignity\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 200px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n
This means a correct understanding of the human person and of each person\u2019s unique value. All Catholic social teaching flows from this: the inherent dignity of every person that comes from being made in God\u2019s image.\u00a0<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide heading=”Solidarity” button_link=”\/solidarity\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Solidarity.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” link_option_url=”\/solidarity\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 200px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n
Solidarity is not \u201ca feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of others. It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a> Love of God and love of neighbor are, in fact, linked and form one, single commandment.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide heading=”Subsidiarity” button_link=”\/subsidiarity\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Subsidiarity.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” link_option_url=”\/subsidiarity\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 200px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n
Subsidiarity \u201cis a fundamental principle of social philosophy, fixed and unchangeable, that one should not withdraw from individuals and commit to the community what they can accomplish by their own enterprise and industry. So, too, it is an injustice and at the same time a grave evil and a disturbance of right order to transfer to the larger and higher collectivity functions which can be performed and provided for by the lesser and subordinate bodies\u201d. (Pope Pius XI)<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_slide][\/et_pb_slider][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” admin_label=”Image & Text” module_id=”newsletter” module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_color=”#eb7525″ z_index=”950″ display_conditions=”W3siaWQiOiI2MmUwMjk2ZS1lYmY5LTQwYWYtYmM0Mi0zZmEzYzUyNGNlYTEiLCJjb25kaXRpb24iOiJwYWdlIiwiY29uZGl0aW9uU2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiZGlzcGxheVJ1bGUiOiJpc05vdCIsImR5bmFtaWNQb3N0cyI6W3sibGFiZWwiOiJDYXJpdGFzIGluIFZlcml0YXRlIiwidmFsdWUiOiI0NzIxNCJ9XSwicG9zdFR5cGVMYWJlbCI6IlBhZ2VzIiwiYWRtaW5MYWJlbCI6IlBhZ2VzIiwiZW5hYmxlQ29uZGl0aW9uIjoib24ifSwib3BlcmF0b3IiOiJPUiJ9XQ==” custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”0px||0px||false|false” animation_direction=”left” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_module=”45073″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ make_equal=”on” module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”200ms” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Playfair Display||||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#eb7525″ header_2_text_color=”#ffffff” header_3_text_color=”#ffffff” header_3_font_size=”30px” header_4_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” header_4_text_color=”#ffffff” header_4_font_size=”32px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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Recently, my wife and I met a new friend at a social gathering. Upon introduction, we exchanged the usual pleasantries. When she learned that I work for the Diocese of Cheyenne as the legislative liaison in the Office of Catholic Social Teaching she replied, \u201cCatholic Social Teaching is just the Church\u2019s way of pushing socialism on us.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
I hear this often. When I asked her where she had gotten that idea, it became clear that she had never actually read a papal encyclical or anything that explains the Church\u2019s social teachings. Our new friend simply was repeating what she had heard from someone else.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n We need to understand that Catholics live within every kind of political system in the world; we also need to understand that the Catholic Church has outlasted many political systems. Important to note is that the Church does not promote any particular political system, nor does it support one particular political party in the United States. The Church highlights the good that She sees wherever She sees it, and the Church names problems She sees wherever She sees them. For emphasis, and in the interest of brevity, I will share some of the more strongly worded condemnations against socialism that popes have made, but many more have been written.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n First, I\u2019d like to share a quote from Pope Leo XIII\u2019s 1901 encyclical, Graves De Communi Re<\/em> (On Christian Democracy), where he teaches that Catholics cannot pursue justice for the purpose of promoting a particular government, \u201cThe laws of nature and of the Gospel\u2026are necessarily independent of all particular forms of civil government, while at the same time they are in harmony with everything that is not repugnant to morality and justice. They are, therefore, and they must remain absolutely free from the passions and the vicissitudes of parties, so that, under whatever political constitution, the citizens may and ought to abide by those laws which command them to love God above all things, and their neighbors as themselves. This always has been the policy of the Church. The Roman Pontiffs acted upon this principle, whenever they dealt with different countries, no matter the character of their governments. Hence, the mind and the action of Catholics devoted to promoting the welfare of the working classes can never be actuated with the purpose of favoring and introducing one government in place of another\u201d. (Pope Leo XIII, 7)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In Quadragesimo Anno<\/em> (1931), Pope Pius XI wrote, \u201cIf Socialism, like all errors, contains some truth (which, moreover, the Supreme Pontiffs have never denied), it is based nevertheless on a theory of human society peculiar to itself and irreconcilable with true Christianity\u201d (n. 120). He continued, \u201cAnd so\u2026having surveyed the present economic system, we have found it laboring under the gravest of evils. We have also summoned Communism and Socialism again to judgment and have found all their forms, even the most modified, to wander far from the precepts of the Gospel\u201d. (Pope Pius XI, 128)<\/a><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In 1961, St. John XXIII referenced Pope Pius\u2019 encyclical Quadragesimo Anno<\/em> in Mater et Magistra<\/em>. \u201cPope Pius XI further emphasized the fundamental opposition between Communism and Christianity and made it clear that no Catholic could subscribe even to moderate Socialism. The reason is that Socialism is founded on a doctrine of human society which is bounded by time and takes no account of any objective other than that of material well-being. Since, therefore, it proposes a form of social organization which aims solely at production, it places too severe a restraint on human liberty, at the same time flouting the true notion of social authority\u201d. (Pope St. John XIII, 34)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In other words, if the intention behind creating a government-funded social program is to establish citizen dependence on the government and take the country one step closer to socialism, that is not acceptable. In the same way, ignoring human dignity until we can fix the \u201csmaller, local institution\u201d (most notably the family) is not acceptable either. Letting the poor and vulnerable perish until we figure out how to protect them with non-governmental means is not an acceptable solution through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n For 2000 years, the Catholic Church has manifested a special concern for the poor and the vulnerable. This is a central tenet of our faith. While some Catholics do not want to hear about how creating government dependence threatens to put us on a slippery slope toward the evils of socialism, other Catholics do not want to see the poor and vulnerable in their communities or hear how local institutions are failing them. Catholics should not consider the care for those in need with an \u201ceither or\u201d mentality.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n We live in a state that is trending more libertarian than traditional conservative, and, in many circles, the suggestion that government programs are necessary is viewed as heresy. Government is necessary, however, even in a free market society. We need infrastructure; we cannot do everything at the state level; we need checks and balances to ensure fairness.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Think about large corporations that are forcing political ideologies onto small businesses. Think about how some of them are impacting state sovereignty by boycotting states that pass prolife bills like the heartbeat bill in Texas.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n St. John Paul II spoke of unbridled capitalism when he said, \u201c[Capitalism] seeks to defeat Marxism on the level of pure materialism by showing how a free-market society can achieve a greater satisfaction of material human needs than Communism, while equally excluding spiritual values. In reality, while on the one hand it is true that this social model shows the failure of Marxism to contribute to a humane and better society, on the other hand, insofar as it denies an autonomous existence and value to morality, law, culture and religion, it agrees with Marxism, in the sense that it totally reduces man to the sphere of economics and the satisfaction of material needs.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n I have seen the denial of \u201cvalue to morality, law, culture and religion\u201d and the reduction of \u201cman to the sphere of economics\u201d in Wyoming with the push for \u201csin taxes\u201d like online sports betting and the effort to legalize recreational marijuana.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The arguments for passing such laws at the Wyoming Legislature follow a similar trend. They often begin by acknowledging that the idea itself is morally questionable followed by a personal disclaimer such as, \u201cI personally don\u2019t gamble, but…\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Next, liberty is described with such sacred terms that a mere inquiry about how such a law could impact social responsibility seems sacrilegious. \u201cEven though I would never do it, far be it from me to say what someone else should or should not do.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Then, just when the room is mesmerized by the thought of absolute autonomy, we hear, \u201cThen, we could tax it.\u201d There is the hook. Remember, we\u2019ve said we won\u2019t all be contributing to these particular taxes because we don\u2019t all gamble. So, the \u201cplan\u201d is to balance the budget with other people\u2019s money, which is one of the tenants of socialism that many people detest. In the name of liberty, we say it is ok to pass bills that knowingly put vulnerable families (\u201cthe smaller, local institution\u201d that is best situated to meet the needs of individual members) under greater duress.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n I don\u2019t know if I was able to convince our new friend that her perception of Catholic Social Teaching is a misperception. In truth, Catholic Social Teaching is a treasure-trove of wisdom gained by the Church throughout the ages and gifted to us today. But it shouldn\u2019t surprise us that the spiritual enemy of Christ and His Church would create fear by portraying the antidote to our social problems as a poison. If this article has done nothing else, I hope it inspires you to visit my webpage and read the papal encyclicals for yourselves. (https:\/\/dioceseofcheyenne.org\/catholic-social-teaching<\/a>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Deacon Mike Leman completed the residential<\/em> CAPP-USA\/Catholic University of America Certificate Program in Catholic Social Teaching<\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0in<\/em> October 2021 and is the Legislative Liaison for the Diocese of Cheyenne (which encompasses the entire state of Wyoming). This article originally appeared in the Wyoming Catholic Register and is reprinted with the author\u2019s permission.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Marxism vs. CST: Where They Overlap<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n What is Socialism?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n What is Democratic Socialism?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Capitalism vs. Socialism<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Was Jesus a Socialist?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Socialist Countries and Welfare States<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Karl Marx and the Catholic Church<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”\/socialism\/” button_text=”More about Socialism” button_alignment=”center” module_class=”hover-btn-border” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”30px” button_text_color=”#054368″ button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|600||on|||||” button_icon=”5||divi||400″ button_on_hover=”off” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#054368″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”\/articles” button_text=”Back to Articles” button_alignment=”center” module_class=”hover-btn-border” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”30px” button_text_color=”#054368″ button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|600||on|||||” button_icon=”5||divi||400″ button_on_hover=”off” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#054368″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Widget of Issues ” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px||” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,3_5,1_5″ use_custom_gutter=”on” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.13.0″ width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” custom_css_main_element=”width: 100% !important;” make_fullwidth=”on” global_module=”31023″ saved_tabs=”all” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_slider show_image_video_mobile=”on” module_class=”three-principles” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ header_font=”Open Sans|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#084369″ header_font_size=”24px” header_line_height=”1.5em” body_text_color=”#084369″ width=”100%” width_last_edited=”off|desktop” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|||” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_slide_image_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_slide_image_phone=”width: auto;||margin: 0 auto !important;”][et_pb_slide heading=”Three Key Principles” button_link=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/catholic-social-teaching-principles\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Three-Principles.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” image_alt=”Three circles containing symbols of the three principles of catholic social teaching: human dignity, subsidiarity, and solidarity.” image_tablet=”” image_phone=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/3-Key-principle-icons-resized.png” image_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” z_index=”0″ overflow-x=”hidden” overflow-y=”hidden” link_option_url=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/catholic-social-teaching-principles\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 300px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n Catholic social teaching is built on three foundational principles –\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity<\/strong>,\u00a0Solidarity\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Subsidiarity.\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity, embodied in a correct understanding of the human person, is the greatest. The others flow from it. Good governments and good economic systems find ways of fostering the three principles.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide heading=”Human Dignity” button_link=”\/human-dignity\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Human-Dignity.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” link_option_url=”\/human-dignity\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 200px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n This means a correct understanding of the human person and of each person\u2019s unique value. All Catholic social teaching flows from this: the inherent dignity of every person that comes from being made in God\u2019s image.\u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide heading=”Solidarity” button_link=”\/solidarity\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Solidarity.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” link_option_url=”\/solidarity\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 200px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n Solidarity is not \u201ca feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of others. It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a> Love of God and love of neighbor are, in fact, linked and form one, single commandment.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide heading=”Subsidiarity” button_link=”\/subsidiarity\/” image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Subsidiarity.png” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” button_on_hover=”on” link_option_url=”\/subsidiarity\/” custom_css_slide_image=”width: 200px !important;||margin: 0 auto !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n Subsidiarity \u201cis a fundamental principle of social philosophy, fixed and unchangeable, that one should not withdraw from individuals and commit to the community what they can accomplish by their own enterprise and industry. So, too, it is an injustice and at the same time a grave evil and a disturbance of right order to transfer to the larger and higher collectivity functions which can be performed and provided for by the lesser and subordinate bodies\u201d. (Pope Pius XI)<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_slide][\/et_pb_slider][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” admin_label=”Image & Text” module_id=”newsletter” module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_color=”#eb7525″ z_index=”950″ display_conditions=”W3siaWQiOiI2MmUwMjk2ZS1lYmY5LTQwYWYtYmM0Mi0zZmEzYzUyNGNlYTEiLCJjb25kaXRpb24iOiJwYWdlIiwiY29uZGl0aW9uU2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiZGlzcGxheVJ1bGUiOiJpc05vdCIsImR5bmFtaWNQb3N0cyI6W3sibGFiZWwiOiJDYXJpdGFzIGluIFZlcml0YXRlIiwidmFsdWUiOiI0NzIxNCJ9XSwicG9zdFR5cGVMYWJlbCI6IlBhZ2VzIiwiYWRtaW5MYWJlbCI6IlBhZ2VzIiwiZW5hYmxlQ29uZGl0aW9uIjoib24ifSwib3BlcmF0b3IiOiJPUiJ9XQ==” custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”0px||0px||false|false” animation_direction=”left” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_module=”45073″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ make_equal=”on” module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”200ms” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Playfair Display||||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#eb7525″ header_2_text_color=”#ffffff” header_3_text_color=”#ffffff” header_3_font_size=”30px” header_4_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” header_4_text_color=”#ffffff” header_4_font_size=”32px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.21.0″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]The Church Condemns Extremism in all Forms<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
The greatest challenge to responding to the claim that Catholic Social Teaching promotes socialism is deciding where to begin. Perhaps no other institution in the world has been more openly critical of socialism than the Catholic Church. While the intentions of many who put their hope in socialism may be good, the means through which socialism tries to achieve those ends are, according to Catholic Social Teaching, unacceptable.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe Church is for Good Government<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Do these criticisms of socialism mean that the Church is against all state and federal social programs? No, it does not. The principle of subsidiarity indicates that \u201clarger institutions in society should not overwhelm or interfere with smaller or local institutions, yet larger institutions have essential responsibilities when the more local institutions cannot adequately protect human dignity, meet human needs, and advance the common good\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 48)<\/a><\/span><\/span>; (Pope St. Paul VI, 4-6)<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nUnbridled Capitalism<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
The above statements are not examples of big government; they are examples of \u201cunbridled capitalism\u201d of which Catholic Social Teaching also is very critical. <\/span><\/span>Some of those corporations spend millions of dollars to lobby against government oversight, which sounds like a very libertarian approach, but then they turn right around and force states and individuals to bow under their financial pressure.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nCatholic Social Teaching Brings Clarity<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
This is one example of how looking through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching brings clarity to a situation.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nSign Up For Our Newsletter:<\/h4>\n