This was originally posted at another blog of mine that I have deleted. I have combined all my blogs into this one for the sake of simplicity in my already busy life. Jen – 6/13/09.
In our local catholic mothers group, we had the head of the diocese’s social peace & justice council come speak. I had a feeling I was going to be annoyed, but I didn’t realize just how annoyed I would get. Politically, I would consider myself closer to libertarian (except for their stand on abortion), though I typically vote republican.
This guy was a socialist leaning more toward communist! He passed out this document on the 7 key themes of Catholic social teaching. I understand that as Catholics we are to take care of and love our fellow man–that was yesterday’s gospel (in the Latin mass, it was anyway). I don’t, however, think we need to make futile efforts (like trying to negotiate with people who want to wipe you off the planet) or legislate the ideals that you hold, as the speaker was trying to make us think we should.
Don’t get me wrong; I disagree with little of this document. If we all did as the church teaches, it would probably be a much nicer place. I don’t, however, like the idea of forcing people to do all these things. For one, God gave us free will. For another, it is hardly a good deed or service to the least of us if it is not done from our hearts. I think the thing that gets me the most is that his pro-Socialist blathering completely ignores the fact that without Capitalism, no one has anything. The Russians have been Communist for years & are starving. The only reason China is doing so well is because they’ve starting allowing limited industry in. I understand G.K. Chesterton‘s concerns about the downfalls of Capitalism.
That is the fault of not knowing your religion or failing to be religious at all — not the problem with Capitalism. As a steward of God’s property, my job is to try and grow that property for the good of the Lord (see Matthew 25:14-30); without Capitalism that becomes VERY difficult. The people & businesses of the United States, the wealthiest nation in the world, give more charitable donations as a percentage of GDP than any other country in the world, according to an article on MSNBC. You just can’t convince me that we need to switch to socialism; it’s been proven all over the world that it just doesn’t work as well.
What about you? Could you do more to live your own life according to the teachings of the church? I’m sure I will find a few more things I can do and I will teach my child(ren) the same. But you can bet that I’m not going to tell YOU what to do.