Jun 27 2009
We are not Conservative or Liberal. We are Catholic.
The following from a Catholic Answers Forums:
Liberal? Conservative? Don’t care?
I tell people I have liberal political views and conservative moral views.
The reason that I have these views is that I believe people need to be accountable for themselves. Mainly, if the government tells us what we can and can’t do, we would not be able to use the free will God has given us. Now laws are laws, but I know what is right, and what is wrong… who is to say that I should impose my beliefs on someone else.
Now I say that I am Conservative on my moral views, because I believe in the traditional family. I think that if a person is a homosexual, they should not live in sin, just as any unmarried couple. I believe that marriage is for a man and a woman. I pray for those who are not under God’s grace.
By no means do these two small paragraphs encompass everything I believe, but this is just a starting point.
The post is not to attack or refute anyone’s opinion, but just a survey to see why people believe what they do. Honestly I do not like any label except the label of being Catholic!
What the member posted is true, in part, but it does not go far enough. Catholicism transcends political labels mainly because they do not fit in most, if not all, cases.
Yes, on many moral issues, Catholicism can appear to be “conservative”. That is a given. However, the degree of the “conservatism” is not absolute. You have heard the saying “Hate the sin, but love the sinner”. It seems that a lot of “conservatives” forget the second part and accuse those to follow the whole precept as being “liberal”. Yes, we are suppose to rebuke those who openly sin against God’s Natural Law, but we do not stop caring or expel those who sin. Even in cases of Excommunication, it is not a final condemnation if the sinner repents and comes back. We are to forgive.
On many social issues, however, Catholicism appears to be “liberal”. We are to care for the poor and provide assistance when able. The can be clearly seen in the teachings of Our Lord in a number of Gospel passages. The one that stick out for me is:
Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ (Mt. 25: 34-44 RSV)
What separates us from the “liberals” is how this is done. As Catholics, we should not rely on the government to do these. This is socialism. It is also inefficient and a waste of valuable resources that can better be put to use. Charity does not mean, “let others do it”. It means that we are supposed to do it through the resources set up by the Church. It also means that we are not only supposed to provide financial support for this resource. We are, when able, to directly assist in charitable activities. This is why we are not “liberal”. The government tends to say, “Give us the money and stay out”.
In summary, being Catholic does not beam being “conservative” or “liberal”, it mean being Catholic. Start living that way.
