The Catholic Church and Democratic Socialism<\/h1><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIrreconcilable with Christianity<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\nClassic Socialism<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0<\/div>\n\nOften Has Similar Goals as Christian Teaching<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWe must distinguish between classic socialism<\/strong> (typically called \u2018Communism<\/em>\u2019), and other, newer, forms of socialism (sometimes called \u2018Democratic Socialism<\/strong>\u2019).
Let us define and address each of these, in turn.<\/strong><\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tClassic Socialism:<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tClassic socialism is <\/span><\/strong>the economic system that can be <\/span>seen as the <\/span>transition\u00a0between capitalism and communism. Its aims <\/span>are for the state to own and regulate the means of production.\u00a0People then share <\/span>equally in the <\/span>outputs of the system.\u00a0Its <\/span>popularity resulted from the writings of Karl Marx.\u00a0<\/b><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n- Advocates government ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods, and <\/span><\/li>\n
- Collapsed in 1989 with the fall of the USSR and Eastern European \u2018socialist\u2019 regimes. <\/span><\/li>\n
- Was greatly modified by Deng Xiaoping in China, beginning with his far-reaching market-economy reforms in the early 1980\u2019s. <\/span><\/li>\n
- Still exists<\/strong> in places like Cuba<\/strong> and North Korea<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
This socialism has been<\/strong> condemned <\/strong>by Catholic social teaching starting with Pope Leo XIII in 1891, through Pope Pius XI in 1931 to Pope St. John Paul II in 1991 as it violates private property rights, subsidiarity and anthropology.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLet Us Be Clear!<\/span><\/h4>\n\u00a0Catholic social teaching has <\/span>never<\/strong> said anything positive about this socialism.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tClassic Socialism Clashes with Certain Human Rights<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"Pope](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/1.jpg\" "\\"Pope")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tViolates Private Property<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Leo XIII, in Rerum Novarum, found that socialism violates rights of private property and hurts the working person.<\/p>\n
Socialism<\/strong>, he said, is \u201cemphatically unjust\u201d<\/strong> for it \u201cwould rob the lawful possessor, distort the functions of the State, and create utter confusion in the community.\u201d (Rerum Novarum, 4)<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\nSocialism \u201cmust be utterly rejected, since it only injures those whom it would seem meant to benefit, is directly contrary to the natural rights of mankind, and would introduce confusion and disorder into the commonweal.\u201d (Rerum Novarum, 24)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\tOne hundred year later Pope St. John Paul II endorsed this masterful insight: \u201cThis right, [to private property] which is fundamental for the autonomy and development of the person, has always been defended by the Church up to our own day\u201d.\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 30)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\nAnd, \u201cBy defining the nature of the socialism of his day as the suppression of private property, Leo XIII arrived at the crux of the problem.\u201d (Pope St. John Paul II, 12)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\u201cThe first and most fundamental principle, therefore, if one would undertake to alleviate the condition of the masses, must be the inviolability of private property.\u201d (Pope St. John Paul II, 15)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tLearn About Private Property Rights<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"Pope](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tViolates Subsidiarity<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Pius XI, in Quadragesimo Anno, found socialism violates the key Catholic social teaching principle of Subsidiarity:<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThat most weighty principle<\/strong>, which cannot be set aside or changed, remains fixed and unshaken in social philosophy: Just as it is gravely wrong to take from individuals what they can accomplish by their own initiative and industry and give it to the community, so also it is an injustice and at the same time a grave evil and disturbance of right order to assign to a greater and higher association what lesser and subordinate organizations can do.\u201d (Quadragesimo Anno, 79)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\"The State\u2026must not extend their ownership beyond what is clearly required by considerations of the common good properly understood, and even then there must be safeguards. Otherwise private ownership could be reduced beyond measure, or, even worse, completely destroyed.\"<\/span>\u00a0(Pope St. John XXIII, 117)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tLearn About Subsidiarity<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"John](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/3.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tViolates Anthropology<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFinally, Pope St. John Paul II, in Centesimus Annus, demonstrates socialism\u2019s failure to comprehend anthropology<\/strong> \u2013 the human person. \u201cIt is not possible to understand man on the basis of economics alone\u201d. (Centesimus Annus, 24)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Under socialism, freedom \u201cis replaced<\/strong> by a burdensome system of bureaucratic control which dries up the wellsprings of initiative and creativity\u201d. (Centesimus Annus, 25)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\nThereby, socialism ultimately fails due to<\/strong> \u201can understanding of human freedom which detaches it from obedience to the truth, and consequently from the duty to respect the rights of others.\u201d (Centesimus Annus, 17)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\tHe recognized that: \u201cMan is understood in a more complete way when he is situated within the sphere of culture\u201d and, \u201c[a]t the heart of every culture lies the attitude man takes to the greatest mystery: the mystery of God\u2026When this question is eliminated, the culture and moral life of nations are corrupted.\u201d\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 24)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\nSo, in addition to socialism\u2019s failure due to: 1) violations of the rights of workers (private initiative, ownership of property, and economic freedom); 2) the inefficiency of its economic system, and; 3) as a consequence of violating human rights \u2014 socialism ultimately fails because of the \u201cspiritual void brought about by atheism\u201d.\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 24)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tLearn About Human Dignity<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tDemocratic Socialism<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPinning down how adherents of Democratic Socialism consistently self-define proved impossible. However, an analysis of numerous \u201cDemocratic Socialism\u201d and \u201cSocialist\u201d web-sites in the US and Europe made clear their harmony in advocating for one or both of these positions.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tAdvocates:<\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tGovernment provides a range of basic services<\/strong>, such as health care and higher education, for free or at a significant discount, and\/or;
Government control of vast sectors of the economy<\/strong> - in order to ameliorate perceived \u201cills\u201d (climate change, income inequality, etc.).<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tHow closely the current movement aligns with the \u201ceven moderate socialism\u201d condemned by the Catholic Church for its singular focus on man\u2019s economic \u201cnature\u201d and rejection of God as our ultimate goal is, of course, open to discussion and awaits a fuller explication of beliefs from adherents.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Church Affirms Many Ends of Democratic Socialism<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCatholic social teaching and democratic socialism share<\/span>\u00a0common goals.\u00a0Democratic socialism\u00a0promotes certain teachings of the Catholic Church, in that it values human dignity and solidarity.\u00a0But, while the Catholic Church and democratic socialism share parallels in terms of end goals that is where the similarities end. Pope Pius XI explained...<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIndeed, more moderate \u201csocialism inclines toward and in a certain measure approaches the truths which Christian tradition has always held sacred<\/strong>; for it cannot be denied that its demands at times come very near those that Christian reformers of society justly insist upon.\u201d<\/h5>\nQuadragesimo Anno, 113<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe issues addressed in many cases demand a response arising from a simple consideration of the Catholic social teaching principles of human dignity and solidarity. In fact, \u201cIt can come even to the point that imperceptibly these ideas of the more moderate\u00a0socialism will no longer differ from the desires and demands<\/strong> of those who are striving to remold human society on the basis of Christian principles.\u201d!<\/h5>\nQuadragesimo Anno, 114<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"Lenin](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Atheist-Lenin-and-the-Church.jpg\" "\\"Atheist")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tNot the Means!<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSocialism, even moderate forms like democratic socialism<\/strong>, essentially <\/span>reduces mankind\u00a0into economic elements<\/strong>.\u00a0However, the Catholic Church <\/span>rejects that human beings <\/span>can be so understood. <\/span>Socialism and democratic socialism, therefore, lose an important insight into the basic idea of a human anthropology.\u00a0The Catholic Church <\/span>places man in the fullness of his social and shared humanity. <\/b>By seeing man only in his material element socialism and democratic socialism fail in appreciating man\u2019s true grandeur.<\/p>\nThe \"means\" of even \"moderate socialism\" \"cannot be reconciled with the teachings of the Catholic Church because its concept of society itself is utterly foreign<\/strong> to Christian truth\". (Pope Pius XI, 117)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\nEven moderate socialism \"is based\u2026on a theory of human society\u2026 irreconcilable<\/strong> with true Christianity.\"\u00a0(Pope Pius XI, 120)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\"We have\u00a0found all their forms, even the most modified, to wander far <\/strong>from the precepts of the Gospel.\"\u00a0(Pope Pius XI, 128)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Irreconcilable with Christianity<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Classic Socialism<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Often Has Similar Goals as Christian Teaching<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
We must distinguish between classic socialism<\/strong> (typically called \u2018Communism<\/em>\u2019), and other, newer, forms of socialism (sometimes called \u2018Democratic Socialism<\/strong>\u2019).
Let us define and address each of these, in turn.<\/strong><\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tClassic Socialism:<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tClassic socialism is <\/span><\/strong>the economic system that can be <\/span>seen as the <\/span>transition\u00a0between capitalism and communism. Its aims <\/span>are for the state to own and regulate the means of production.\u00a0People then share <\/span>equally in the <\/span>outputs of the system.\u00a0Its <\/span>popularity resulted from the writings of Karl Marx.\u00a0<\/b><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n- Advocates government ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods, and <\/span><\/li>\n
- Collapsed in 1989 with the fall of the USSR and Eastern European \u2018socialist\u2019 regimes. <\/span><\/li>\n
- Was greatly modified by Deng Xiaoping in China, beginning with his far-reaching market-economy reforms in the early 1980\u2019s. <\/span><\/li>\n
- Still exists<\/strong> in places like Cuba<\/strong> and North Korea<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
This socialism has been<\/strong> condemned <\/strong>by Catholic social teaching starting with Pope Leo XIII in 1891, through Pope Pius XI in 1931 to Pope St. John Paul II in 1991 as it violates private property rights, subsidiarity and anthropology.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLet Us Be Clear!<\/span><\/h4>\n\u00a0Catholic social teaching has <\/span>never<\/strong> said anything positive about this socialism.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tClassic Socialism Clashes with Certain Human Rights<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tViolates Private Property<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Leo XIII, in Rerum Novarum, found that socialism violates rights of private property and hurts the working person.<\/p>\n
Socialism<\/strong>, he said, is \u201cemphatically unjust\u201d<\/strong> for it \u201cwould rob the lawful possessor, distort the functions of the State, and create utter confusion in the community.\u201d (Rerum Novarum, 4)<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\nSocialism \u201cmust be utterly rejected, since it only injures those whom it would seem meant to benefit, is directly contrary to the natural rights of mankind, and would introduce confusion and disorder into the commonweal.\u201d (Rerum Novarum, 24)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\tOne hundred year later Pope St. John Paul II endorsed this masterful insight: \u201cThis right, [to private property] which is fundamental for the autonomy and development of the person, has always been defended by the Church up to our own day\u201d.\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 30)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\nAnd, \u201cBy defining the nature of the socialism of his day as the suppression of private property, Leo XIII arrived at the crux of the problem.\u201d (Pope St. John Paul II, 12)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\u201cThe first and most fundamental principle, therefore, if one would undertake to alleviate the condition of the masses, must be the inviolability of private property.\u201d (Pope St. John Paul II, 15)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tLearn About Private Property Rights<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tViolates Subsidiarity<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Pius XI, in Quadragesimo Anno, found socialism violates the key Catholic social teaching principle of Subsidiarity:<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThat most weighty principle<\/strong>, which cannot be set aside or changed, remains fixed and unshaken in social philosophy: Just as it is gravely wrong to take from individuals what they can accomplish by their own initiative and industry and give it to the community, so also it is an injustice and at the same time a grave evil and disturbance of right order to assign to a greater and higher association what lesser and subordinate organizations can do.\u201d (Quadragesimo Anno, 79)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\"The State\u2026must not extend their ownership beyond what is clearly required by considerations of the common good properly understood, and even then there must be safeguards. Otherwise private ownership could be reduced beyond measure, or, even worse, completely destroyed.\"<\/span>\u00a0(Pope St. John XXIII, 117)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tLearn About Subsidiarity<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tViolates Anthropology<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFinally, Pope St. John Paul II, in Centesimus Annus, demonstrates socialism\u2019s failure to comprehend anthropology<\/strong> \u2013 the human person. \u201cIt is not possible to understand man on the basis of economics alone\u201d. (Centesimus Annus, 24)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Under socialism, freedom \u201cis replaced<\/strong> by a burdensome system of bureaucratic control which dries up the wellsprings of initiative and creativity\u201d. (Centesimus Annus, 25)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\nThereby, socialism ultimately fails due to<\/strong> \u201can understanding of human freedom which detaches it from obedience to the truth, and consequently from the duty to respect the rights of others.\u201d (Centesimus Annus, 17)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\tHe recognized that: \u201cMan is understood in a more complete way when he is situated within the sphere of culture\u201d and, \u201c[a]t the heart of every culture lies the attitude man takes to the greatest mystery: the mystery of God\u2026When this question is eliminated, the culture and moral life of nations are corrupted.\u201d\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 24)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\nSo, in addition to socialism\u2019s failure due to: 1) violations of the rights of workers (private initiative, ownership of property, and economic freedom); 2) the inefficiency of its economic system, and; 3) as a consequence of violating human rights \u2014 socialism ultimately fails because of the \u201cspiritual void brought about by atheism\u201d.\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 24)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tLearn About Human Dignity<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tDemocratic Socialism<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPinning down how adherents of Democratic Socialism consistently self-define proved impossible. However, an analysis of numerous \u201cDemocratic Socialism\u201d and \u201cSocialist\u201d web-sites in the US and Europe made clear their harmony in advocating for one or both of these positions.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tAdvocates:<\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tGovernment provides a range of basic services<\/strong>, such as health care and higher education, for free or at a significant discount, and\/or;
Government control of vast sectors of the economy<\/strong> - in order to ameliorate perceived \u201cills\u201d (climate change, income inequality, etc.).<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tHow closely the current movement aligns with the \u201ceven moderate socialism\u201d condemned by the Catholic Church for its singular focus on man\u2019s economic \u201cnature\u201d and rejection of God as our ultimate goal is, of course, open to discussion and awaits a fuller explication of beliefs from adherents.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Church Affirms Many Ends of Democratic Socialism<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCatholic social teaching and democratic socialism share<\/span>\u00a0common goals.\u00a0Democratic socialism\u00a0promotes certain teachings of the Catholic Church, in that it values human dignity and solidarity.\u00a0But, while the Catholic Church and democratic socialism share parallels in terms of end goals that is where the similarities end. Pope Pius XI explained...<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIndeed, more moderate \u201csocialism inclines toward and in a certain measure approaches the truths which Christian tradition has always held sacred<\/strong>; for it cannot be denied that its demands at times come very near those that Christian reformers of society justly insist upon.\u201d<\/h5>\nQuadragesimo Anno, 113<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe issues addressed in many cases demand a response arising from a simple consideration of the Catholic social teaching principles of human dignity and solidarity. In fact, \u201cIt can come even to the point that imperceptibly these ideas of the more moderate\u00a0socialism will no longer differ from the desires and demands<\/strong> of those who are striving to remold human society on the basis of Christian principles.\u201d!<\/h5>\nQuadragesimo Anno, 114<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tNot the Means!<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSocialism, even moderate forms like democratic socialism<\/strong>, essentially <\/span>reduces mankind\u00a0into economic elements<\/strong>.\u00a0However, the Catholic Church <\/span>rejects that human beings <\/span>can be so understood. <\/span>Socialism and democratic socialism, therefore, lose an important insight into the basic idea of a human anthropology.\u00a0The Catholic Church <\/span>places man in the fullness of his social and shared humanity. <\/b>By seeing man only in his material element socialism and democratic socialism fail in appreciating man\u2019s true grandeur.<\/p>\nThe \"means\" of even \"moderate socialism\" \"cannot be reconciled with the teachings of the Catholic Church because its concept of society itself is utterly foreign<\/strong> to Christian truth\". (Pope Pius XI, 117)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\nEven moderate socialism \"is based\u2026on a theory of human society\u2026 irreconcilable<\/strong> with true Christianity.\"\u00a0(Pope Pius XI, 120)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\"We have\u00a0found all their forms, even the most modified, to wander far <\/strong>from the precepts of the Gospel.\"\u00a0(Pope Pius XI, 128)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Classic Socialism:<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tClassic socialism is <\/span><\/strong>the economic system that can be <\/span>seen as the <\/span>transition\u00a0between capitalism and communism. Its aims <\/span>are for the state to own and regulate the means of production.\u00a0People then share <\/span>equally in the <\/span>outputs of the system.\u00a0Its <\/span>popularity resulted from the writings of Karl Marx.\u00a0<\/b><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n- Advocates government ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods, and <\/span><\/li>\n
- Collapsed in 1989 with the fall of the USSR and Eastern European \u2018socialist\u2019 regimes. <\/span><\/li>\n
- Was greatly modified by Deng Xiaoping in China, beginning with his far-reaching market-economy reforms in the early 1980\u2019s. <\/span><\/li>\n
- Still exists<\/strong> in places like Cuba<\/strong> and North Korea<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
This socialism has been<\/strong> condemned <\/strong>by Catholic social teaching starting with Pope Leo XIII in 1891, through Pope Pius XI in 1931 to Pope St. John Paul II in 1991 as it violates private property rights, subsidiarity and anthropology.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLet Us Be Clear!<\/span><\/h4>\n\u00a0Catholic social teaching has <\/span>never<\/strong> said anything positive about this socialism.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tClassic Socialism Clashes with Certain Human Rights<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tViolates Private Property<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Leo XIII, in Rerum Novarum, found that socialism violates rights of private property and hurts the working person.<\/p>\n
Socialism<\/strong>, he said, is \u201cemphatically unjust\u201d<\/strong> for it \u201cwould rob the lawful possessor, distort the functions of the State, and create utter confusion in the community.\u201d (Rerum Novarum, 4)<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\nSocialism \u201cmust be utterly rejected, since it only injures those whom it would seem meant to benefit, is directly contrary to the natural rights of mankind, and would introduce confusion and disorder into the commonweal.\u201d (Rerum Novarum, 24)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\tOne hundred year later Pope St. John Paul II endorsed this masterful insight: \u201cThis right, [to private property] which is fundamental for the autonomy and development of the person, has always been defended by the Church up to our own day\u201d.\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 30)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\nAnd, \u201cBy defining the nature of the socialism of his day as the suppression of private property, Leo XIII arrived at the crux of the problem.\u201d (Pope St. John Paul II, 12)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\u201cThe first and most fundamental principle, therefore, if one would undertake to alleviate the condition of the masses, must be the inviolability of private property.\u201d (Pope St. John Paul II, 15)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tLearn About Private Property Rights<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tViolates Subsidiarity<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Pius XI, in Quadragesimo Anno, found socialism violates the key Catholic social teaching principle of Subsidiarity:<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThat most weighty principle<\/strong>, which cannot be set aside or changed, remains fixed and unshaken in social philosophy: Just as it is gravely wrong to take from individuals what they can accomplish by their own initiative and industry and give it to the community, so also it is an injustice and at the same time a grave evil and disturbance of right order to assign to a greater and higher association what lesser and subordinate organizations can do.\u201d (Quadragesimo Anno, 79)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\"The State\u2026must not extend their ownership beyond what is clearly required by considerations of the common good properly understood, and even then there must be safeguards. Otherwise private ownership could be reduced beyond measure, or, even worse, completely destroyed.\"<\/span>\u00a0(Pope St. John XXIII, 117)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tLearn About Subsidiarity<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tViolates Anthropology<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFinally, Pope St. John Paul II, in Centesimus Annus, demonstrates socialism\u2019s failure to comprehend anthropology<\/strong> \u2013 the human person. \u201cIt is not possible to understand man on the basis of economics alone\u201d. (Centesimus Annus, 24)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Under socialism, freedom \u201cis replaced<\/strong> by a burdensome system of bureaucratic control which dries up the wellsprings of initiative and creativity\u201d. (Centesimus Annus, 25)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\nThereby, socialism ultimately fails due to<\/strong> \u201can understanding of human freedom which detaches it from obedience to the truth, and consequently from the duty to respect the rights of others.\u201d (Centesimus Annus, 17)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\tHe recognized that: \u201cMan is understood in a more complete way when he is situated within the sphere of culture\u201d and, \u201c[a]t the heart of every culture lies the attitude man takes to the greatest mystery: the mystery of God\u2026When this question is eliminated, the culture and moral life of nations are corrupted.\u201d\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 24)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\nSo, in addition to socialism\u2019s failure due to: 1) violations of the rights of workers (private initiative, ownership of property, and economic freedom); 2) the inefficiency of its economic system, and; 3) as a consequence of violating human rights \u2014 socialism ultimately fails because of the \u201cspiritual void brought about by atheism\u201d.\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 24)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tLearn About Human Dignity<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tDemocratic Socialism<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPinning down how adherents of Democratic Socialism consistently self-define proved impossible. However, an analysis of numerous \u201cDemocratic Socialism\u201d and \u201cSocialist\u201d web-sites in the US and Europe made clear their harmony in advocating for one or both of these positions.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tAdvocates:<\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tGovernment provides a range of basic services<\/strong>, such as health care and higher education, for free or at a significant discount, and\/or;
Government control of vast sectors of the economy<\/strong> - in order to ameliorate perceived \u201cills\u201d (climate change, income inequality, etc.).<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tHow closely the current movement aligns with the \u201ceven moderate socialism\u201d condemned by the Catholic Church for its singular focus on man\u2019s economic \u201cnature\u201d and rejection of God as our ultimate goal is, of course, open to discussion and awaits a fuller explication of beliefs from adherents.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Church Affirms Many Ends of Democratic Socialism<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCatholic social teaching and democratic socialism share<\/span>\u00a0common goals.\u00a0Democratic socialism\u00a0promotes certain teachings of the Catholic Church, in that it values human dignity and solidarity.\u00a0But, while the Catholic Church and democratic socialism share parallels in terms of end goals that is where the similarities end. Pope Pius XI explained...<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIndeed, more moderate \u201csocialism inclines toward and in a certain measure approaches the truths which Christian tradition has always held sacred<\/strong>; for it cannot be denied that its demands at times come very near those that Christian reformers of society justly insist upon.\u201d<\/h5>\nQuadragesimo Anno, 113<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe issues addressed in many cases demand a response arising from a simple consideration of the Catholic social teaching principles of human dignity and solidarity. In fact, \u201cIt can come even to the point that imperceptibly these ideas of the more moderate\u00a0socialism will no longer differ from the desires and demands<\/strong> of those who are striving to remold human society on the basis of Christian principles.\u201d!<\/h5>\nQuadragesimo Anno, 114<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tNot the Means!<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSocialism, even moderate forms like democratic socialism<\/strong>, essentially <\/span>reduces mankind\u00a0into economic elements<\/strong>.\u00a0However, the Catholic Church <\/span>rejects that human beings <\/span>can be so understood. <\/span>Socialism and democratic socialism, therefore, lose an important insight into the basic idea of a human anthropology.\u00a0The Catholic Church <\/span>places man in the fullness of his social and shared humanity. <\/b>By seeing man only in his material element socialism and democratic socialism fail in appreciating man\u2019s true grandeur.<\/p>\nThe \"means\" of even \"moderate socialism\" \"cannot be reconciled with the teachings of the Catholic Church because its concept of society itself is utterly foreign<\/strong> to Christian truth\". (Pope Pius XI, 117)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\nEven moderate socialism \"is based\u2026on a theory of human society\u2026 irreconcilable<\/strong> with true Christianity.\"\u00a0(Pope Pius XI, 120)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\"We have\u00a0found all their forms, even the most modified, to wander far <\/strong>from the precepts of the Gospel.\"\u00a0(Pope Pius XI, 128)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Classic socialism is <\/span><\/strong>the economic system that can be <\/span>seen as the <\/span>transition\u00a0between capitalism and communism. Its aims <\/span>are for the state to own and regulate the means of production.\u00a0People then share <\/span>equally in the <\/span>outputs of the system.\u00a0Its <\/span>popularity resulted from the writings of Karl Marx.\u00a0<\/b><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> This socialism has been<\/strong> condemned <\/strong>by Catholic social teaching starting with Pope Leo XIII in 1891, through Pope Pius XI in 1931 to Pope St. John Paul II in 1991 as it violates private property rights, subsidiarity and anthropology.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> \u00a0Catholic social teaching has <\/span>never<\/strong> said anything positive about this socialism.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> Pope Leo XIII, in Rerum Novarum, found that socialism violates rights of private property and hurts the working person.<\/p>\n Socialism<\/strong>, he said, is \u201cemphatically unjust\u201d<\/strong> for it \u201cwould rob the lawful possessor, distort the functions of the State, and create utter confusion in the community.\u201d (Rerum Novarum, 4)<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Socialism \u201cmust be utterly rejected, since it only injures those whom it would seem meant to benefit, is directly contrary to the natural rights of mankind, and would introduce confusion and disorder into the commonweal.\u201d (Rerum Novarum, 24)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> One hundred year later Pope St. John Paul II endorsed this masterful insight: \u201cThis right, [to private property] which is fundamental for the autonomy and development of the person, has always been defended by the Church up to our own day\u201d.\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 30)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n And, \u201cBy defining the nature of the socialism of his day as the suppression of private property, Leo XIII arrived at the crux of the problem.\u201d (Pope St. John Paul II, 12)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe first and most fundamental principle, therefore, if one would undertake to alleviate the condition of the masses, must be the inviolability of private property.\u201d (Pope St. John Paul II, 15)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> Pope Pius XI, in Quadragesimo Anno, found socialism violates the key Catholic social teaching principle of Subsidiarity:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat most weighty principle<\/strong>, which cannot be set aside or changed, remains fixed and unshaken in social philosophy: Just as it is gravely wrong to take from individuals what they can accomplish by their own initiative and industry and give it to the community, so also it is an injustice and at the same time a grave evil and disturbance of right order to assign to a greater and higher association what lesser and subordinate organizations can do.\u201d (Quadragesimo Anno, 79)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \"The State\u2026must not extend their ownership beyond what is clearly required by considerations of the common good properly understood, and even then there must be safeguards. Otherwise private ownership could be reduced beyond measure, or, even worse, completely destroyed.\"<\/span>\u00a0(Pope St. John XXIII, 117)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> Finally, Pope St. John Paul II, in Centesimus Annus, demonstrates socialism\u2019s failure to comprehend anthropology<\/strong> \u2013 the human person. \u201cIt is not possible to understand man on the basis of economics alone\u201d. (Centesimus Annus, 24)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Under socialism, freedom \u201cis replaced<\/strong> by a burdensome system of bureaucratic control which dries up the wellsprings of initiative and creativity\u201d. (Centesimus Annus, 25)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Thereby, socialism ultimately fails due to<\/strong> \u201can understanding of human freedom which detaches it from obedience to the truth, and consequently from the duty to respect the rights of others.\u201d (Centesimus Annus, 17)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> He recognized that: \u201cMan is understood in a more complete way when he is situated within the sphere of culture\u201d and, \u201c[a]t the heart of every culture lies the attitude man takes to the greatest mystery: the mystery of God\u2026When this question is eliminated, the culture and moral life of nations are corrupted.\u201d\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 24)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n So, in addition to socialism\u2019s failure due to: 1) violations of the rights of workers (private initiative, ownership of property, and economic freedom); 2) the inefficiency of its economic system, and; 3) as a consequence of violating human rights \u2014 socialism ultimately fails because of the \u201cspiritual void brought about by atheism\u201d.\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 24)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> Pinning down how adherents of Democratic Socialism consistently self-define proved impossible. However, an analysis of numerous \u201cDemocratic Socialism\u201d and \u201cSocialist\u201d web-sites in the US and Europe made clear their harmony in advocating for one or both of these positions.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> Government provides a range of basic services<\/strong>, such as health care and higher education, for free or at a significant discount, and\/or; How closely the current movement aligns with the \u201ceven moderate socialism\u201d condemned by the Catholic Church for its singular focus on man\u2019s economic \u201cnature\u201d and rejection of God as our ultimate goal is, of course, open to discussion and awaits a fuller explication of beliefs from adherents.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> Catholic social teaching and democratic socialism share<\/span>\u00a0common goals.\u00a0Democratic socialism\u00a0promotes certain teachings of the Catholic Church, in that it values human dignity and solidarity.\u00a0But, while the Catholic Church and democratic socialism share parallels in terms of end goals that is where the similarities end. Pope Pius XI explained...<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> Quadragesimo Anno, 113<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> Quadragesimo Anno, 114<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> Socialism, even moderate forms like democratic socialism<\/strong>, essentially <\/span>reduces mankind\u00a0into economic elements<\/strong>.\u00a0However, the Catholic Church <\/span>rejects that human beings <\/span>can be so understood. <\/span>Socialism and democratic socialism, therefore, lose an important insight into the basic idea of a human anthropology.\u00a0The Catholic Church <\/span>places man in the fullness of his social and shared humanity. <\/b>By seeing man only in his material element socialism and democratic socialism fail in appreciating man\u2019s true grandeur.<\/p>\n The \"means\" of even \"moderate socialism\" \"cannot be reconciled with the teachings of the Catholic Church because its concept of society itself is utterly foreign<\/strong> to Christian truth\". (Pope Pius XI, 117)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Even moderate socialism \"is based\u2026on a theory of human society\u2026 irreconcilable<\/strong> with true Christianity.\"\u00a0(Pope Pius XI, 120)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \"We have\u00a0found all their forms, even the most modified, to wander far <\/strong>from the precepts of the Gospel.\"\u00a0(Pope Pius XI, 128)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n
Let Us Be Clear!<\/span><\/h4>\n
Classic Socialism Clashes with Certain Human Rights<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Violates Private Property<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Read More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Violates Subsidiarity<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Read More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Violates Anthropology<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Read More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
Democratic Socialism<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Advocates:<\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Government control of vast sectors of the economy<\/strong> - in order to ameliorate perceived \u201cills\u201d (climate change, income inequality, etc.).<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>The Church Affirms Many Ends of Democratic Socialism<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Indeed, more moderate \u201csocialism inclines toward and in a certain measure approaches the truths which Christian tradition has always held sacred<\/strong>; for it cannot be denied that its demands at times come very near those that Christian reformers of society justly insist upon.\u201d<\/h5>\n
The issues addressed in many cases demand a response arising from a simple consideration of the Catholic social teaching principles of human dignity and solidarity. In fact, \u201cIt can come even to the point that imperceptibly these ideas of the more moderate\u00a0socialism will no longer differ from the desires and demands<\/strong> of those who are striving to remold human society on the basis of Christian principles.\u201d!<\/h5>\n
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Not the Means!<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>