I would argue that every modern political ideology is idolatry of some form. These political ideologies elevate a particular or even minor good—nation, race, equality, autonomy—to the supreme good. We can think of communism as idolatry of economic equality, fascism as idolatry of the state, Nazism as idolatry of race, and liberalism as idolatry of the self. The common good as taught by the Catholic magisterium is rightly ordered to God above all and then to neighbor.
Furthermore, the nature or essence of government is to resolve controvertible issues according to some conception of what is true and good. It is the magisterium that teaches the full deposit of faith and morals and thus what is good and true. In other words it is impossible to separate politics from the common good and likewise impossible to separate the common good from the Catholic Church.
You cannot serve two masters — the Enlightenment cult of liberty is anti-Catholic, and a ‘political Catholic’ is no different than a Catholic working at an abortion clinic to change hearts.
The real battlefield is evangelization, not politics.
Hey! Glad to see you here on Substack. I have followed you on Insta for a few years. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Sarah! I like insta but writing is much more my thing lol
Alright let's gooo! :)
I would argue that every modern political ideology is idolatry of some form. These political ideologies elevate a particular or even minor good—nation, race, equality, autonomy—to the supreme good. We can think of communism as idolatry of economic equality, fascism as idolatry of the state, Nazism as idolatry of race, and liberalism as idolatry of the self. The common good as taught by the Catholic magisterium is rightly ordered to God above all and then to neighbor.
Furthermore, the nature or essence of government is to resolve controvertible issues according to some conception of what is true and good. It is the magisterium that teaches the full deposit of faith and morals and thus what is good and true. In other words it is impossible to separate politics from the common good and likewise impossible to separate the common good from the Catholic Church.
Any good formation on CST you’d recommend?
Anthony Esolen wrote a great book called Reclaiming Catholic Social Teaching. DC Schindler’s Politics of the Real is also fantastic but very academic
If you want to go right to the source, Rerum Novarum is not hard to read. Neither are most of Pope Leo XIII’s encyclicals
Thanks sir!
*Books
You cannot serve two masters — the Enlightenment cult of liberty is anti-Catholic, and a ‘political Catholic’ is no different than a Catholic working at an abortion clinic to change hearts.
The real battlefield is evangelization, not politics.