Editorial: We Do Not Need Conservativism We Need a Classical Christian Revival Comments
I am afraid we will be fooled again if, after this election, we buy the idea that conservatism is the solution to what is needed in this Nation - and in the West. The collapse of Western civilization will not be remedied by conservativism. Political movements alone are inadequate for the task. Continue Reading
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PROGRESSIVE LIBERALISM IS A SIN!:
LIBERALISM IS A SIN
Dr. Don Felix Sarda Y Salvany
Liberalism is the root of heresy, the tree of evil in whose branches all the harpies of infidelity find ample shelter; it is today the evil of all evils. (Ch. 4).
"The theater, literature, public and private morals are all saturated with obscenity and impurity. The result is inevitable; a corrupt generation necessarily begets a revolutionary generation. Liberalism is the program of naturalism. Free-thought begets free morals, or immorality. Restraint is thrown off and a free rein given to the passions. Whoever thinks what he pleases will do what he pleases. Liberalism in the intellectual order is license in the moral order. Disorder in the intellect begets disorder in the heart, and vice-versa. Thus does Liberalism propagate immorality, and immorality Liberalism." (Ch. 26).
Liberalism "is, therefore, the radical and universal denial of all divine truth and Christian dogma, the primal type of all heresy, and the supreme rebellion against the authority of God and His Church. As with Lucifer, its maxim is, 'I will not serve.'" (Ch. 3).
"Liberalism, whether in the doctrinal or practical order, is a sin. In the doctrinal order, it is heresy, and consequently a mortal sin against faith. In the practical order, it is a sin against the commandments of God and of the Church, for it virtually transgresses all commandments. To be more precise: in the doctrinal order, Liberalism strikes at the very foundations of faith; it is heresy radical and universal, because within it are comprehended all heresies. In the practical order it is a radical and universal infraction of the divine law, since it sanctions and authorizes all infractions of that law." (Ch. 3).
CONSIDER YOURSELVES WARNED!
To Rafaelmarie
You appear to equate 'Conservatism' with Christianity. First of all, there are hundreds of 'Conservatisms' so which one are you advocating? Second, can it truly be said that any label, be it Conservatism or Liberalism, accurately embodies the height, breadth and depth of Christianity? Is not Christianity, our Faith, something that transcends any mere human label, any mere human political movement? Is it not the case that all mere human social and political movements are nothing more than creatures of their times, coming and going with the decades and the centuries, while Christianity, as God-inspired, is eternal, and incapable of being defined or equated with such narrow, limited terms? Surely our Faith is something larger, bigger, more generous, more magnanimous? Just ask yourself: Can we honestly describe Jesus, the founder of our religion, as a 'Conservative'? Or a 'Liberal'? No, we can not. Our Faith transcends mere politics. The trick is to apply it, implement it, in line with the changing times to maximise its impact for good.
Great article, Deacon, and I totally agree with you that the way forward has to be a specifically Christian route, not one that is excessively attached to either the left or right of the political spectrum. However, could you please clarify what exactly you mean by 'classical Christianity'? - You do not specifically define it and I for one, and I suspect many others, would find such a definition helpful in focusing in on a rational, practical application of our faith in these tempestuous times. For example, are you referring to early classical Graeco-Roman Christianity, its vigor, intelligence and optimism? To a recovery of our historical role at the very heart of Western Civilisation and its development? Or to a sort of Aquinian synthesis of classical, rational thought with deep and committed faith? Or to some other interpretation of the word 'classical' vis a vis Christianity?
To Tom McGuire
You said "1. Never think or give the impression that we possesses the whole truth."
But we do. Faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation in God's plan, and the true doctrine of Christian faith may only come from his one, true Catholic Church.
In counter, what if we stood united with our Church instead of imagining we know something our holy priesthood doesn't? What if we admitted that to be Catholic is loyalty to the Church militant and not loyalty only to our liberal western mindset? What if we trusted the men who have given their entire lives to God to guide us to salvation instead of pretending we through reason alone have the right to change our doctrine due to popular opinion?
Dining with the sinner is good, but defending his sin is evil. Christ came to call sinners to righteousness, not to justify them.
Rob: The 10 commandments,the beatitudes,the Catechism,the Holy Bible,are based on moral laws. These comprise the teachings of our Catholic Church. I base the sacrament of reconciliation on these sets of laws when I confess my sins. A Christian that willingly abides by the teachings of the Holy Catholic Church is free,he actually can break no laws,as he in good faith keeps all laws. That does not mean that he can"t be unjustly scandalized,or even crucified as an innocent,by those who make their own sets of laws through their relative sense of perspective,that distorts especially any moral sense of law itself. The Constitution has become a twisted sister of laws,so that no law is sacred,it is a matter of opinion,to be challenged and amended,so it becomes politically correct agenda based morality. For this reason it is neither Holy or moral law,it has become distorted,it is a law unto itself. As law is allowed to become relative in perspective,then it becomes simply unjust and immoral law,such as Roe vs Wade for example. Abortion is the law of the land,it is immoral,amoral law,certainly,you and I can agree it is not moral law at all. Obeying God is always better than just conforming to the current set of civil laws with their current sets of ever changing definitions. Remember the10 Commandments were fixed in stone,that may not have been such a bad ideas that is moral law designed to bring peace to the world.
Great comments! It is good to know that others feel in a similar way. The Social Justice Bishops cannot see the forest for the trees.
I encourage many of you to express the same thoughts you have expressed on this comment page to your pastors and Bishops. If they won't stand up and preach the faith to the flock on Sundays then we must let them know how we feel.
I cannot chide them for not preaching the faith and then rationalize my own silence.
The time to be heard at the parish level and at the diocese level is now. If not now, when?
If we accept the Church transforming into the government's right hand social justice task force; then we cant sit back and watch Catholic democrats side with Sandra Fluch, the new black panthers, pro-abortion catholic politicians, gay marriage backing members of the New York Knights of Columbus, William Ayers, Jeremiah Wrights, Father Flagler, and others to numerous to mention.
I fear the day when my little girl asks me, "Daddy is what those people are doing right?" and my response becomes, " Honey, I just don't know anymore. It just depends which clergy you listen too."
Conservatism is probably not enough however, placing my resources in the hands of social justice liberal clergy sure isn't getting us any closer to a spiritual revival.
Excellent article, Deacon. I've been accused of being everything from a Communist to an Obama supporter to a Muslim for saying the exact same thing: our help and hope is not to be found in either political party.
Excellent!
Paul-Emile Leray
CONSERVATIVE = CHRISTIAN
OTHERWISE, IT IS JUST sATAN'S SMOKE!
CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED, DEACON!
To Thomas Masty: I actually have read several of the works of Russell Kirk. He was a genuinely brilliant Catholic thinker. being CATHOLIC is what informed his "brand" of political conservatism.The political labels are so elastic these days they are increasingly problematic for our work in the broader cultural mission. I simply think it is time to once again affirm that "Catholic" is the noun which identifies us, period. After informing our social, cultural, economic and political participation with the truths and principles offered by the body of teachiong called Social Doctrine, we do not easily "fit" in the leastic labels. We are certainly NOT what is called "liberal" these days. However, the Russell Kirk brand of conservatism is hard to find.