2/11/2016 CatholicismandSocialism?Incompatible.

CatholicismandSocialism?Incompatible.

Inaconfusinganddesperatelyfrustratingprimaryseason,oneoftheoddestoutcomeshasbeenthe
riseofBernieSanders.Theselfproclaimeddemocraticsocialist,whowonlastnightsNew
Hampshiredemocraticprimary,hasvowedtomakevirtuallyeverythingfree.Hesstatedtimeand
timeagainthatcollegeeducationshouldcostnothingtothecollegestudent,thathealthcareshould
neverbeenpaidforoutofpocket,andthatwelfareprogramsshouldbevastlyexpanded.Hisdisdain
forthe1%isreferredtoineverystumpspeechgiven,andhehaspromisedamassiveredistribution
ofwealth.Inhiscandidacy,Berniehascarefullyincorporatedalltheelementsofanunachievable
socialistutopia.

ThatafarleftSenatorfromVermontsubscribestosocialismisnotsurprising.Governmentofficials
andacademicsareconstantlyattemptingtothrowcapitalismoverboardsothatsocialismcanreign
free.Theyconvenientlyignorethatsocialismhasneverworkedinhumanhistory,endingeitherin
economicdisasterormassgenocide.Theyfailtoopenlyacknowledgethatsocialism,anditseven
distributionofwealthandproperty,runscontrarytohumannature.Andtheydemonizecapitalism
andthebusinessmendespitebeingaffordedtheirpositions,jobs,andwealththroughacapitalistic
society.Thisisnotnew,andIexpectitwillcontinueforaslongasAmericanprinciplesexist.What
doesconcernme,however,isthelarge,andgrowing,supportBerniehasfromtheelectorate,
especiallyCatholics.CatholicVoterecentlypublishedstatisticsontheelectionshowingthat52%of
CatholicadultsbelievedSanderswouldbeanaverageorbetterpresident.52%?Seriously?I
struggledtounderstandthewideappealofBernieSandersmainlybecauseIknowsocialism,oreven
agovernmentthatlooksalotlikesocialism,willneverworkinthiscountry.Itiseconomicallyunsound
andmorallyunjust.Butuponacloserlook,IseewhyCatholicsupportofSandersissohigh.There
seemstobeaconfusionoverwhatCatholicismteachesaboutcharityandequalityandwhat
governmentcandotofacilitatethatcharityandequality.WhileCatholicSocialTeachingtellsusthat
weasChristianshaveanobligationtohelpthoselessfortunate,itstatesthatitshouldbedone

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2/11/2016 CatholicismandSocialism?Incompatible.

throughgoodwillbyfaith,notgovernmentmandatedprogramsfundedbyexcessivetaxes.The
fundamentalflawintheperceivedrelationshipbetweenBerniessocialjusticemantraand
CatholicismcameforthwhilereadingapiecebyJoshGelertnerinNationalReviewoncultural
appropriation.Thoughthetopicisunrelated,hestatesthat,youngleftistswhowanttoappeargood
withoutthehassleofdoinggoodareproblematicandrampantintodayssociety.Thedesireofmany
toappeargoodwithoutactuallydoinganythinggoodisalineofthinkingthatlendsitselftoSanders
campaign.Pumpingmoneyintogovernmentwelfareprogramsandeducationseeminglydoeswhat
manypeopleareunwillingtodothemselvesassistthepoor,hungry,sick,andmarginalized.Inan
efforttoreconcileCatholicSocialTeachingwithmodernAmericansociety,numerousCatholicshave
eliminatedindividualgoodwillandcharityinfavorofgovernmentsubsidizedprogramsandinsane
taxplans.Inreality,Bernieshighfalutincriticismofcapitalismandpraiseofsocialismiscontradictory
tomuchofCatholicDoctrine.Thetheologydoesnotpreachthemeritsofgovernmentredistribution
ofwealthorextremewelfareprogramswhosebenefitsoutweighthosegainedthroughactualwork.
HardworkandcharityfromtheheartarepillarsoftheCatholicfaithtwothingsthatareenabledby
capitalismandhinderedbysocialism.PopeJohnPaulIIwroteinhisencyclicalSollicitudoRei
SocialisthatExperienceshowsusthatthedenialofthisright[therightofeconomicinitiative],orits
limitationinthenameofanallegedequalityofeveryoneinsocietydiminishes,orinpractice,
absolutelydestroysthespiritofinitiative...Governmentcannotgrantequalitybytaxingtherich,
redistributingtheiroftenhardearnedwealth,andcreatingmassivewelfareprograms,because
equalityisnottheirstogive.
EqualitycomesfromGod,notBernieSanders.

Socialism,anditsdiscipleSanders,arenotfriendsofCatholicism.Sandersplanfundamentally
underminesthespiritofChristiancharity,assumingthemarginalizedwillonlybecaredforifthe
federalgovernmentforcesyoutocare.Further,thenotionofeconomicredistribution,asameansof
achievingequalityiscountertothebeliefthatGodgrantsourworthandhardworkisamainstayof
Catholicteaching,nottomentionadeeplyflawedeconomicpractice.Socialismisnotknownforits
embraceofreligion,sowhyisthisproposalanydifferent?Inanelectioncycleasimportantasthis,
Catholicshaveaspiritualandcivicresponsibilitytoassesscandidatesbeyondtheirstumpspeeches.
Thoughfreeeducation,freehealthcare,andthepromiseofheartywelfarebenefitssoundsgood,the
promiseisimpossible.Taxingawaynearlyallthemoneyofthosewhoworkhardtopayforothers
eliteeducationandoverthetopwelfarebenefitsdisincentivizeswork.Inturn,thosefederallyfunded
socialprogramsusethemoneyofotherstonegatetheneedforChristiancharity.Thesocialismof
BernieSandersisnotCatholicSocialTeachingonsteroids,butapracticethatifimplemented,would
renderCatholicism,anditsmembers,archaic.
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