As our President and government moves our country closer towards an European-style type of Socialism, we should never forget we should be a free people, as stated by our Founding Fathers and by our Holy Fathers:
"...Socialism...cannot be reconciled with the teachings of the Catholic Church because its concept of society itself is utterly foreign to Christian truth."QUADRAGESIMO ANNO, 117, Encyclical of Pope Pius XI Reconstruction of the Social Order, May 15, 1931
"...no Catholic [can] subscribe even to moderate Socialism."MATER ET MAGISTRA, 34, Pope John XXIII On Christianity and Social Progress, May 15, 1961
"Socialists...debase the natural union of man and woman...the [family] bond they...deliver up to lust. Lured...by the greed of present goods...they assail the right of property. While they seem desirous of caring for the needs and satisfying the desires of all men, they strive to seize and hold in common whatever has been acquired either by title, by labor, or by thrift."QUOD APOSTOLICI MUNERIS, 1, Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII On Socialism, December 28, 1878
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4 comments:
Well, there have been attempts to reconcile Christianity & Socialism - This blend does have its' attraction. For myself, at least.
Dan-
According to these Pontiff's quotes there seems to be no reconciling these two. Even moderate socialism. That was the point of the post.
By comparision, the Catechism of the Church supports Capitalism, but not if it exploits workers or anyone. So Capitalism with morality is the marketplace preference of the Vatican.
In my college days I would go out to eat with a group of school mates. Some would eat alot, some wouldn't eat at all. Some would heavily drink, some would not touch a drop. I used to grab the bill when it came and ask everyone to put in what they owed for the food and drink they had. The money ALWAYS came up short to pay the bill. They worst offenders put in the least amount of money proportionately to what they owed. They knew they had the chance that someone else would pay for their full belly.
I used to then announce to the table, you all just proved why Socialism will never work.
I am a 61 yr old life-long Catholic. I am so discouraged. In my area, our priests and nuns are Socialists and supporters of liberation theology. I am almost at the point of leaving the Church to find Pastoral Care and teaching on Faith and the Word of God. I am so sick of only hearing about "Social Justice", and the right of the poor to taxpayer funded Healthcare. Please tell me that there is a Catholic Church in the USA that isn't run by Socialist clergy!
The beauty of the Catholic Church is that the Eucharist is the true Body of Christ no matter where you receive it. The liturgy is also universal so you can attend any Catholic Church for Mass. I would try several Catholic Churches in your area until you find one you are comfortable with.
Please be careful. Do not give up the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist, to attend a lesser worship because a cleric rubs you the wrong way. You would be trading the presence of God for less than that.
Please ready my blog on St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
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