Ask a Question - or - Return to the Faith and Spirituality Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Libertarianism and Catholicsm	Jonas	Sunday, September 21, 2008
Question: Dear Brother, Is Pro-life Libertarianism compatible with Catholicism? I have recently had a discussion with a friend that advocates a libertarian worldview. His views are very persuasive. I have also had the opportunity to understand the views espoused by Ron Paul, a 2008 presidential candidate. He is Pro-life and constitutionalist. As the US isn’t founded on a Catholic foundation, nevertheless recognising the Creator, isn’t Ron Paul advocating what really the founding fathers intended to establish – a society founded on liberties, freedom, and free-market. Could you visit this URL – it is where i have understood Ron Paul’s view. http://catholicsforronpaul.blogspot.com/search/label/Gay%20Agenda – scroll down and there is a 60min video. Shouldn’t every individual have the right to liberty and to choose what they want to do with themselves, with the proviso that it doesn’t physically harm anyone else? If this was the case you could imagine the US becoming a mass migration of people moving to particular states that best represent people’s moral outlooks. If this was to happen then there would be a very stark and clear difference between a city that was inhabited by pure secularists with homosexual unions, bigamists etc, and a city inhabited by devout Catholics that lived out devout Catholic lives. The fruits would be determinative. On the one hand you would have literally Sin City, on the other you would have a Virtuous city. If these devout Catholics were true witnesses, then by sheer good example, you would attract people of good will. Those that would choose not to live up to Catholic standards would migrate to one of the Sinful cities. The choice would be yours. Each state could legislate to represent better the people’s views. This would be fantastic! You would have a devout Catholic state, a beautiful culture of life, which inherently means big Catholic families. On the other hand, there would also be a culture of death in the other cities. Jonas
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Jonas: I am sorry but I haven't the time to watch the video. As it is with all political philosophies and parties there are elements that may be consistent with Catholicism and elements that are not. Libertarianism can include notions of anarchism and extreme individualism. These notions are not consistent with Catholic worldview in my opinion. There are many kinds of libertarianism. A couple of example that I believe at not consistent with the Catholic worldview: What is called Left-libertarianism (or "Libertarian Socialism") that proposes the re-distribution of wealth and the elimination of the right to hold private property is also not consistent with the Catholic worldview. Geo-libertarianism proposes a collectivism similar to communism in which property is held in common. If you want to live on a piece of property then you have to pay rent to the community. This is also not consistent with Catholicism. The form of Libertarianism that can have some consistency with the Catholic worldview is Libertarian conservatism (or "libertarian constitutionalism"). This type proposes that the way to limit government is to enforce the United States Constitution. I think the Ron Paul is of this variety. The one thing that is common throughout Libertarianism is the "individual" liberty is held as the highest value. This is not quite consistent with the communitarian worldview of Catholicism. In Catholicism we are individuals, but not mere individuals. We are family and family (with Christ as its head) is the highest social value. BTW, a important note: Be careful with this statement: Shouldn’t every individual have the right to liberty and to choose what they want to do with themselves, with the proviso that it doesn’t physically harm anyone else? This statement is dangerously close to the Satanic verse, "That thou harm none, do what thy wilt is the whole of the law." Such a statement makes the individual the highest value. That is not Catholic. Family and community, with God as King and Father, is the highest value. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary P.S. Ave Marie University in Florida as built a "Catholic City". Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Libertarianism and Catholicsm

Jonas

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Question:

Dear Brother,

Is Pro-life Libertarianism compatible with Catholicism?

I have recently had a discussion with a friend that advocates a libertarian worldview. His views are very persuasive.

I have also had the opportunity to understand the views espoused by Ron Paul, a 2008 presidential candidate. He is Pro-life and constitutionalist. As the US isn’t founded on a Catholic foundation, nevertheless recognising the Creator, isn’t Ron Paul advocating what really the founding fathers intended to establish – a society founded on liberties, freedom, and free-market.

Could you visit this URL – it is where i have understood Ron Paul’s view. http://catholicsforronpaul.blogspot.com/search/label/Gay%20Agenda – scroll down and there is a 60min video.

Shouldn’t every individual have the right to liberty and to choose what they want to do with themselves, with the proviso that it doesn’t physically harm anyone else?

If this was the case you could imagine the US becoming a mass migration of people moving to particular states that best represent people’s moral outlooks. If this was to happen then there would be a very stark and clear difference between a city that was inhabited by pure secularists with homosexual unions, bigamists etc, and a city inhabited by devout Catholics that lived out devout Catholic lives. The fruits would be determinative. On the one hand you would have literally Sin City, on the other you would have a Virtuous city.

If these devout Catholics were true witnesses, then by sheer good example, you would attract people of good will. Those that would choose not to live up to Catholic standards would migrate to one of the Sinful cities. The choice would be yours.

Each state could legislate to represent better the people’s views. This would be fantastic! You would have a devout Catholic state, a beautiful culture of life, which inherently means big Catholic families. On the other hand, there would also be a culture of death in the other cities.

Jonas

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Jonas:

I am sorry but I haven't the time to watch the video.

As it is with all political philosophies and parties there are elements that may be consistent with Catholicism and elements that are not.

Libertarianism can include notions of anarchism and extreme individualism. These notions are not consistent with Catholic worldview in my opinion.

There are many kinds of libertarianism. A couple of example that I believe at not consistent with the Catholic worldview:

What is called Left-libertarianism (or "Libertarian Socialism") that proposes the re-distribution of wealth and the elimination of the right to hold private property is also not consistent with the Catholic worldview.

Geo-libertarianism proposes a collectivism similar to communism in which property is held in common. If you want to live on a piece of property then you have to pay rent to the community. This is also not consistent with Catholicism.

The form of Libertarianism that can have some consistency with the Catholic worldview is Libertarian conservatism (or "libertarian constitutionalism"). This type proposes that the way to limit government is to enforce the United States Constitution. I think the Ron Paul is of this variety.

The one thing that is common throughout Libertarianism is the "individual" liberty is held as the highest value. This is not quite consistent with the communitarian worldview of Catholicism.

In Catholicism we are individuals, but not mere individuals. We are family and family (with Christ as its head) is the highest social value.

BTW, a important note:

Be careful with this statement: Shouldn’t every individual have the right to liberty and to choose what they want to do with themselves, with the proviso that it doesn’t physically harm anyone else?

This statement is dangerously close to the Satanic verse, "That thou harm none, do what thy wilt is the whole of the law."

Such a statement makes the individual the highest value. That is not Catholic. Family and community, with God as King and Father, is the highest value.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

P.S. Ave Marie University in Florida as built a "Catholic City".

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum