Catholic Social Doctrine: What Does the Church Teach About Democracy and Values

By Andrew M. Greenwell, Esq.
3/27/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

The Church has traditionally maintained that no form of civil government is imposed upon man by God.

Like all other forms of government, democracy is but a form of government. It is a means, and not an end in itself. Like all human government, democracy has been de-divinized by Christ. Democracy has no more claim to worship than did Caesar.

Facebook Delicous MySpace

Twitter Stumble Digg

More Destinations

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX (Catholic Online) - The Church has traditionally maintained that no form of civil government is imposed upon man by God. The traditional doctrine is found, for example, in Leo XIII who stated in his encyclical addressed to the bishops in France in 1892 entitled Au Milieu des Sollicitudes that,

"in truth it may be affirmed that each of [the forms of government] is good, provided it lead straight to the end--that is the common good, for which social authority is constituted,--and finally, it may be added that from the relative point of view, such and such a form of government may be preferable because of being better adapted to the character and customs of such or such a nation. In this order of speculative ideas, Catholics, like all other citizens, are free to prefer one form of government to another, precisely because no one of these social forms is, in itself, opposed to the principles of sound reason or to the maxims of Christian doctrine."

In line with this traditional stance, the Church has not hesitated to point out the benefits of a democratic form of government, while yet pointing out the dangers of such a system. The benefits of a democratic form of government are perhaps summarized best by Pope John Paul II in his encyclical Centesimus annus, which the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, describes as containing "an explicit and articulate judgment with regard to democracy." (Compendium, No. 406):

"The Church values the democratic system inasmuch as it ensures the participation of citizens in making political choices, guarantees to the governed the possibility both of electing and holding accountable those who govern them, and of replacing them through peaceful means when appropriate. Thus she cannot encourage the formation of narrow ruling groups which usurp the power of the State for individual interests or for ideological ends."

"Authentic democracy," the Pope continues, "is possible only in a State ruled by law, and on the basis of a correct conception of the human person. It requires that the necessary conditions be present for the advancement both of the individual through education and formation in true ideals, and of the 'subjectivity' of society through the creation of structures of participation and shared responsibility." (Compendium, No. 406) (quoting Centesimus annus, 46).

The Church distinguishes between "authentic democracy" and one that is not authentic. The most significant distinction between an "authentic democracy" and an inauthentic one relates to substance: does it promote the common good, the rule of law, the dignity of the human person properly understood? Does it recognize objectively-informed human rights based upon the natural moral law? Does it advance the good life based upon a proper understanding of man? Or does it put right over the good?

If viewed as a mere procedure, devoid of substantive values, democracy may be more a hindrance to the good life than a benefit to it. So the Compendium warns us: "An authentic democracy is not merely the result of a formal observation of a set of rules but is the fruit of a convinced acceptance of the values that inspire democratic procedures: the dignity of every human person, the respect of human rights, commitment to the common good as the purpose and guiding criterion for political life. If there is no general consensus on these values, the deepest meaning of democracy is lost and its stability is compromised." (Compendium, No. 407)

Democracy as a form of government, in fact, is no panacea. It can become intolerant, dangerous, even inhuman if it does not build upon the notion of an objective moral order. If democracy is built upon a people who have rejected an objective order--so that all morality is conventional, a matter of agreement only--then there is great danger of a form of tyranny.

In fact, the problem of "ethical relativism" is what presents democracies in the West with the greatest threat. "The Church's social doctrine," explains the Compendium, "sees ethical relativism, which maintains that there are no objective or universal criteria for establishing the foundations of a correct hierarchy of values, as one of the greatest threats to modern-day democracies."

Quoting John Paul II's Centesimus annus, the Compendium continues: "'Nowadays there is a tendency to claim that agnosticism and skeptical relativism are the philosophy and the basic attitude which correspond to democratic forms of political life. Those who are convinced that they know the truth and firmly adhere to it are considered unreliable from a democratic point of view, since they do not accept that truth is determined by the majority, or that it is subject to variation according to ...

1 | 2 Next Page

Rate This Article

Was this helpful to you? Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Not Helpful at All

Would you be interested in more articles like this? Yes, I am Interested No, I am not Interested

Rate Article

1 - 10 of 11 Comments

Mary
1 year ago
Would love to know of a governmental system where the moral order could be upheld and would not decline into a general moral or secular relatavism. I think that is up to us as individuals to uphold the moral order in our own families. I think that our constitutional republic is still the best system devised or possible in a pluralistic society. for me to maintain my freedom to follow God through His One Holy and Apostolic Church. If you all have a better idea I would certainly love to hear it.
Andrew
1 year ago
@Dave: I do agree that our political constitution is a federal republic based upon democratic principles, though not only democratic principles since part of the constitution has other principles, e.g., a judiciary appointed for life (which is not democractic), a President with veto power (which is not democractic). It was actually more mixed than it is now, largely because of the influences of Jacksonian Democracy. Republic = res publica = commonwealth is the notion that the State is for the common good, and not something for the benefit of some private interest or part of the whole. Democracy is more a process of participation by the people (demos). It is possible to envision a democracy which is not a republic, e.g., one that is based solely on the will of the majority and disregardful of minority rights. In such a case it would not be a republicam (since it would rule for the interests of the majority at the expense of the minority), but a reprivatum.
Vance
1 year ago
Great article that applies to our current society. We all have the Old Testament to read many examples of Israel in moral decline and the consequences. During those periods of moral decline, it clearly appears that the Religious hierarchy was also in moral decline. Over the past 50 years the Catholic Church hierarchy have been silent spectators to the moral decay of our nation. They got into the game because Obama and the Marxist Party forced their hand. They admit that they didn't really want to fight but they were forced into it. The article posits that a Democracy that has no moral compass is no Democracy. There seems to be a parallel between Israel of the Old Testament and America today. History is repeating itself.
John Baysson
1 year ago
Very good article! Very informative and quiet relevant given the time where people seem to thin the values that had lead to Democracy it-self are up for a majority to decide.
Rob
1 year ago
Dave G, I really do believe that we have supplanted the mission field for political activism. I think in some circles the "America" has become an idol where the thought is that if we get rid of this guy and put in our guy, this will usher in the second coming. You ask how do we turn the tide? We've really got to work on our evangelization. I really think the reason so many have drifted away is that the religious folks of our time are really not all that different from the non-believers. We live the same way, divorce the same way, contracept the same way, we spend money the same way. We've given them nothing in our witness to suggest to them that true happiness is found in Christ. We've got one foot in the world and one in the Church and it's not working. I think a non-believer looks at us as says why on earth should I give this all up....they haven't. I'd rather go on being true and playing golf on sunday morning than going to mass and playing church. I know this is a huge generalization, but we might do well to really think about the mission of our church. It's really not politics. We might all want to ask ourselves if the time we spend following politics and whatever rabbit holes that takes us down compares to the time we spend evangelizing? Are we sharing the good news or are we just political? Are we a soldier for Jesus or for Caesar?
techwreck
1 year ago
Dave, I believe that a republic is a "democratic form of government". And I certainly believe that forms of government that allow citizens to participate in government, as the U.S. republic does, are preferable to governments dominated by ruling classes. That is what the U.S. became as a result of the Rowe v. Wade decision. A small group of elites on the "Supreme" Court made a fundamental decision about the right to life that changed our nation. That "right" did not appear anywhere in our Constitution, and the justices who supported the decision should have been impeached by the Congress for exceeding their constitutional authority. They were not, despite overwhelming opposition to the decision by the American people. Thus began the decay of our government and country as our form democratic form of government was hijacked by the elites and the U.S. became a European style state with a progressive form of government ruled by elites.
Joseph
1 year ago
Excellent article!
David
1 year ago
To be true to the true nature of life, that if a country gravitates away from Jesus, what was written above will happen. If a country gravitates towards Jesus, than the opposite of the above destruction will happen. It is all a matter of the one true light of the world, Jesus Christ. To also be of truth, that what goes up can also come down. That what destroy's itself for rejecting Jesus, can with all good hope, heal itself with Jesus as well. If democrocy comes to Jesus, it will not fail to succeed as a democracy. But it must come to Jesus.
abey
1 year ago
Again, no culture is by itself a culture, but comes about through certain beliefs & based upon this is the Social & Moral structure to the governance. Hence at the basis of Democracy or of any other form of governance lies the Social & Moral beliefs. As in the case of the west where the Governance was based on the Christian belief there arose the democracy which was government off/by & for the people called "Christian Democracy" which notably became the best form of Governance in the world but when this very Christian beliefs are changed to ancient Pagan beliefs, beliefs that are an abomination unto GOD as Biblically stated, then the governance becomes "Pagan Democracy" seen today under Obama & the democrats, changing the meaning to People off/by/for the government, which in the simple meaning is to slavery, Biblically tagged to the "Mark of the Beast". A typical example where the best form of governance can turn in itself to the worst form of governance, thus making the chief cause to the beliefs of the people, & a clear indication that it does not pay to go against the Word of God, in the beliefs. To this the Kingdom of GOD on earth can be expected, based on the Truth in the Belief without "Prefixes or Suffices", to its Name,Character or Charter.
jh
1 year ago
Well explained.

Prev12 Next

Comments submitted must be civil, remain on-topic and not violate any laws including copyright. We reserve the right to delete any comments which are abusive, inappropriate or not constructive to the discussion.

Though we invite robust discussion, we reserve the right to not publish any comment which denigrates the human person, undermines marriage and the family, or advocates for positions which openly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church.

This is a supervised forum and the Editors of Catholic Online retain the right to direct it.

We also reserve the right to block any commenter for repeated violations. Your email address is required to post, but it will not be published on the site.

We ask that you NOT post your comment more than once. Catholic Online is growing and our ability to review all comments sometimes results in a delay in their publication.

Name *

Email *

Comment *

Send me important information from Catholic Online and it's partners. See Sample

Post Comment