Great pice Joe! I think this is something all American Catholics have to grapple with and meditate on. It certainly creates a tension between being a good citizen in a liberal democracy and a good Catholic. However, I wonder if you're correct that "Catholicism can never be fully reconciled with any state." That would mean it is imposable for man to a good citizen and pius. Is it not the nature of a liberal democracy as such that is at odds with Catholicism not the nature of the earthly city?
Thanks Dario! Good observation - notwithstanding integralism, I would argue that, at some point, the state will either exhort or enforce some policy that will challenge the consciousness or morals of a diligent, practicing Catholic. St. Thomas More, who was quoted the end of the article, is a great example of living out the tension between church and state. It's not a matter of either-or, but a matter of priority. My piety calls me to be a good citizen, in so much, as my being a good citizen does not conflict with my piety.
"Kennedy was the epitome of the Catholic American attitude, that is, in the sense that his Catholicism didn’t affect his Americanism but his Americanism affected his Catholicism.". BINGO!
Ahh yes, the shopworn tales of 1960, 1968 and the aftermath. I'm well familiar with those stories, and their relationship to the Culture of Death in America.
Less commonly discussed is a more recent manifestation of the Culture of Death: American Catholics vigorously opposing the Church to defend the American appetite for the Death Penalty. It's a shameful chapter, reminiscent of 1968.
The saddest part to me is what those ethnic Catholics sold out for. Just look at how the next generations of Pelosis, Bidens, Kennedys, Cuomos ended up. The silent generation/boomer types ended up with massive power and wealth but sold their souls for it. Their families are now full of drug addicted sons and daughters and crazy activist grandkids all of whom don’t even call themselves Catholic and will end up not having kids because they killed them through abortion or didn’t have them from contraception. Whole generations of Catholics descended from some of the most Catholic people ever just gone because they decided they cared more about power than their souls. Really tragic
Great pice Joe! I think this is something all American Catholics have to grapple with and meditate on. It certainly creates a tension between being a good citizen in a liberal democracy and a good Catholic. However, I wonder if you're correct that "Catholicism can never be fully reconciled with any state." That would mean it is imposable for man to a good citizen and pius. Is it not the nature of a liberal democracy as such that is at odds with Catholicism not the nature of the earthly city?
Thanks Dario! Good observation - notwithstanding integralism, I would argue that, at some point, the state will either exhort or enforce some policy that will challenge the consciousness or morals of a diligent, practicing Catholic. St. Thomas More, who was quoted the end of the article, is a great example of living out the tension between church and state. It's not a matter of either-or, but a matter of priority. My piety calls me to be a good citizen, in so much, as my being a good citizen does not conflict with my piety.
"Kennedy was the epitome of the Catholic American attitude, that is, in the sense that his Catholicism didn’t affect his Americanism but his Americanism affected his Catholicism.". BINGO!
Ahh yes, the shopworn tales of 1960, 1968 and the aftermath. I'm well familiar with those stories, and their relationship to the Culture of Death in America.
Less commonly discussed is a more recent manifestation of the Culture of Death: American Catholics vigorously opposing the Church to defend the American appetite for the Death Penalty. It's a shameful chapter, reminiscent of 1968.
Good point, Mike. There are several examples one could refer to in regards to “Cafeteria Catholics” picking and choosing where they oppose the Church
For sure.
If the Gospel doesn't make us a least a little uncomfortable, I think something is amiss
The saddest part to me is what those ethnic Catholics sold out for. Just look at how the next generations of Pelosis, Bidens, Kennedys, Cuomos ended up. The silent generation/boomer types ended up with massive power and wealth but sold their souls for it. Their families are now full of drug addicted sons and daughters and crazy activist grandkids all of whom don’t even call themselves Catholic and will end up not having kids because they killed them through abortion or didn’t have them from contraception. Whole generations of Catholics descended from some of the most Catholic people ever just gone because they decided they cared more about power than their souls. Really tragic