Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Prelude to Rerum Novarum: Leo XIII on Socialism
Today we continue to lay the groundwork for Leo XIII's monumental encyclical Rerum Novarum. We had briefly touched on the nature of civil power, the rights of citizens in society, and on the issue of private property. Today we will touch on the antithesis of the Catholic thinking of these things. This is socialism. Many today fail to realize excactly what socialism is. I assert that with the Democratic presidential canidates, there is very little difference in their position, and that of socialism. So as we Americans focus on these issues in an election time, it is very right and prudent for us to remember excactly what socialism is, and what the Church thinks about socialism. When many think about the Church and socialism, they think about the present Pontiff, because of his integral position of fighting socialism in his home country of Poland, and in Latin America. Yet the Church has always been a militant opponent of the socialist question, ever since it's emergence during the 1800's, and Leo XIII made it a main focus of his social encyclicals, combatting socialism in every facet. With that, let us examine his views on socialism. I will not be quoting the work at length, but only mentioning some basic principles.
We must first mention the equivocation that occurs with socialists with the "all men are created equal" slogan they employ. Well this is certainly true, in the basic sense of humanity. We are all called to be sons of God. The call is not restricted to a certain group, as God wills all men to be saved. This is where that equality ends. While there is one universal standard by which we are judged, God also tells us "to whom much is given, much is expected." Man each has different talents and responsibilities. These talents are to be used to further the Gospel and God's Kingdom, yet also to better society. The Christian does not spend his time working against society, but elevating society to it's rightful place established by God.
A Consequence of these differences is wealth. Certain people are blessed with wealth, and certain people are not. Those who are wealthy are expected to use that money for the good of people, not to their disadvantage. To forcefully confiscate this wealth in the name of "balancing the scales" is to revolt against the very created order of God. The scales are balanced in that in the end, we are all judged based on what we have been given. Yet the idea of "balancing the scales" is the essential tenet of socialism.
The problem is these differences are indeed central to humanity. There are some who are rulers, and those who are subjects. Some who own businesses, and those who work for owners. Those who rule in State, and those who advance that causes of State. Some may call them tension, but it is a fact of neccesssity these tensions are there. We are fallible human beings, so these tensions will always be there. The trick is to figure out how these tensions can work together for everyone's advancment. "Leveling the playing field" will do nothing of the sort, only create warfare amongst the classes.
If this sounds familar, this is again, one of the main focuses of the Democratic party today. You cannot mention the idea of tax cuts without hearing "Well tax cuts are for the rich, not for the average person." John Edwards speaks of the "tale of two Americas", Gephardt spoke about those who "won life's lottery." Their goal is not to unite people, but to cause division, and thrive off of that division. In order for their society to be constructed, they must destroy that already exsisting. One can see how the Society they wish to construct is already contrary to Catholic thinking.
I believe we are now ready to cover Rerum Novarum itself. In review, we have covered the origin of civil power, which is from God. The foundation of any civil society is that of marriage between a man and a woman under the auspices of God. As members of society, men and women are to use their respective talents to further that society in service to God. These differences are not inherently evil or bad, but good and neccessary to a healthy society. One of these rights that must be protected in any healthy society is the right to private property, which man is encouraged to acquire. We notice that every single one of these tenets is under attack today still by socialism, and I would submit, against best exemplified by the Democratic party in America.
Today we continue to lay the groundwork for Leo XIII's monumental encyclical Rerum Novarum. We had briefly touched on the nature of civil power, the rights of citizens in society, and on the issue of private property. Today we will touch on the antithesis of the Catholic thinking of these things. This is socialism. Many today fail to realize excactly what socialism is. I assert that with the Democratic presidential canidates, there is very little difference in their position, and that of socialism. So as we Americans focus on these issues in an election time, it is very right and prudent for us to remember excactly what socialism is, and what the Church thinks about socialism. When many think about the Church and socialism, they think about the present Pontiff, because of his integral position of fighting socialism in his home country of Poland, and in Latin America. Yet the Church has always been a militant opponent of the socialist question, ever since it's emergence during the 1800's, and Leo XIII made it a main focus of his social encyclicals, combatting socialism in every facet. With that, let us examine his views on socialism. I will not be quoting the work at length, but only mentioning some basic principles.
We must first mention the equivocation that occurs with socialists with the "all men are created equal" slogan they employ. Well this is certainly true, in the basic sense of humanity. We are all called to be sons of God. The call is not restricted to a certain group, as God wills all men to be saved. This is where that equality ends. While there is one universal standard by which we are judged, God also tells us "to whom much is given, much is expected." Man each has different talents and responsibilities. These talents are to be used to further the Gospel and God's Kingdom, yet also to better society. The Christian does not spend his time working against society, but elevating society to it's rightful place established by God.
A Consequence of these differences is wealth. Certain people are blessed with wealth, and certain people are not. Those who are wealthy are expected to use that money for the good of people, not to their disadvantage. To forcefully confiscate this wealth in the name of "balancing the scales" is to revolt against the very created order of God. The scales are balanced in that in the end, we are all judged based on what we have been given. Yet the idea of "balancing the scales" is the essential tenet of socialism.
The problem is these differences are indeed central to humanity. There are some who are rulers, and those who are subjects. Some who own businesses, and those who work for owners. Those who rule in State, and those who advance that causes of State. Some may call them tension, but it is a fact of neccesssity these tensions are there. We are fallible human beings, so these tensions will always be there. The trick is to figure out how these tensions can work together for everyone's advancment. "Leveling the playing field" will do nothing of the sort, only create warfare amongst the classes.
If this sounds familar, this is again, one of the main focuses of the Democratic party today. You cannot mention the idea of tax cuts without hearing "Well tax cuts are for the rich, not for the average person." John Edwards speaks of the "tale of two Americas", Gephardt spoke about those who "won life's lottery." Their goal is not to unite people, but to cause division, and thrive off of that division. In order for their society to be constructed, they must destroy that already exsisting. One can see how the Society they wish to construct is already contrary to Catholic thinking.
I believe we are now ready to cover Rerum Novarum itself. In review, we have covered the origin of civil power, which is from God. The foundation of any civil society is that of marriage between a man and a woman under the auspices of God. As members of society, men and women are to use their respective talents to further that society in service to God. These differences are not inherently evil or bad, but good and neccessary to a healthy society. One of these rights that must be protected in any healthy society is the right to private property, which man is encouraged to acquire. We notice that every single one of these tenets is under attack today still by socialism, and I would submit, against best exemplified by the Democratic party in America.
