A Catholic Approach to Politics

The United States of America has been politically divided from the beginning. We had the federalists and the anti-federalists, followed by the two-party system that we have today. Relatively speaking, the argument is easily made that the positions of both parties in the past have been more cogent and particular points more easily understood than they are today whatever the truth or error contained.

We see a rising emotionalism that has taken precedence over reason and charity. Conservatives rightly point out this problem among modern liberals and the logical absurdities that result from it. The hatred among the left is becoming more and more overt and their resorting to violence continues to increase. Yet conservatives aren't acquitted merely by pointing out the errors and moral corruption of their political opponents.

Many conservatives have a problem of hatred and putting emotion before reason themselves. It is blatantly apparent on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Anyone who dares to challenge conservative orthodoxy is judged to be a Socialist and a traitor. Any and every crime committed by any politician is automatically treason and so the offender must be punished by death.

I have personally been the receiver of such rash judgements and personal attacks. It's easy to respond in kind and, in moments of weakness, I have fallen into the temptation. I immediately regret it. The personal attacks I hurled myself are forever published on the internet for all to see. I pray to God for mercy and help to overcome my weakness and avoid falling to temptation in the future.

Many Catholics, seeing these problems, continue to seek a better way to handle politics. Some are more successful than others; there's a correct and an incorrect way for a Catholic to approach politics. The wisdom of St. Benedict is especially helpful here, as it is in all areas of our daily lives.

The first chapter of the Rule describes the different kind of monks, of which he says there are four. The two worst are the sarabaites who have no experience and "Their law is whatever they like to do, whatever strikes their fancy," and the gyrovagues who "spend their entire lives drifting from region to region," and "are slaves to their own wills."

Both liberals and conservatives act like these kinds of monks, each in their own way. Liberals are like the sarabaites who follow whatever passing fad strikes their fancy, while conservatives are slaves to their own wills not in a passing fashion, but in a hardening of the heart; they judge themselves morally superior simply because they are preserving the dogma of Americanism without looking at it critically.

Some Catholics try to find a third way by reconciling the two, saying that the Church is both liberal and conservative. They argue that to say one political party is closer to Catholic teaching is to fall into ideological error, but this approach is erroneous of itself.

In his first letter to Timothy, St. Paul teaches us that the Catholic Church is the "pillar and bulwark of truth." Everything that is good, true, and beautiful is contained in the Church and shines a light on every error.

What this means in terms of politics, is that any truth contained by any political party is contained within her doctrine while at the same time shedding light on any and all errors. It may actually be relatively true at a particular point of time that one political party is more in line with Catholic doctrine than another. The Church is eternal and not of this world. The Church has been around for a lot longer than the American form of politics and will continue if America ceases to exist.

So in order to judge the politics of this world correctly, we need to be firmly rooted in Catholic doctrine and the love of Christ. This is the reason St. Benedict condemns so harshly the sarabaites and the gyrovagues; ever on the move and slaves to their own wills, they never settle and grow strong roots deep into the rich soil that is the Church.

First seek the Kingdom of God and His glory; pray for a deeper love for Christ and detachment from the anxieties of this world. Only then can we see temporal politics correctly.

(Image from www.freedomsphoenix.com)

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