There is a Marxist/ Liberation theological strand in the Catholic church which I once considered to be more of a fringe element but have notice their rhetoric to have seeped into what many consider “main stream” in recent years.
The excerpts of Sen. Santorums writings include the phraseology and philosophy espoused by this element. It is taught in theology classes at Catholic universities and, in fact, permeates the curriculum across all disciplines at some of these institutions. Invited speakers and authors who decry American values, rail “against the pursuit of happiness”, foster class antagonism in the name of social and economic justice are celebrated and their ideas are often advanced in the form of “common reader” , cross curriculum assignments.
Seemingly benign and overflowing with pathos and compassion for the less fortunate, parishioners, idealistic college students and many in the general population find the words noble and readily embrace what they perceive to be moral social teaching in the spirit of Catholic identity.
I heard it when Newt described how he would deal with illegal aliens who had resided in this country for some period of time and I recognize the strains in Sen. Santorums words quoted above. Some are calling it big government conservatism. I have come to the conclusion that the rhetoric is more like a gateway drug to socialist-progressivism.
Be very, very, very careful. This is not the stuff that was in your grandmother’s catechism.
Very very good insights. The progressive catholic church is infested with liberation theology type thinking, which has its roots in Marxism. Dorothy Day was the extreme wing of this thinking but elements of this corrupt theology has spread to many bishops/priests who then poison their flock, who think they are being compassionate.
In March of 1983 JP II specifically went to Nicaragua to address and try to correct this growing marxist movement in the Church. It had its manifestation in South America, but the intellectual roots were formed in Europe/bad Jesuit theology, etc.
True church teaching requires the idividual to perform corporal works of mercy and the OT actually seems to require the giving of alms for salvation, but this is the individual giving freely from his own goods, not the collective deciding for the individual.
This is very dangerous thinking here within the progressive church. I have no idea where Santorum falls along this progressive church leaning socialist spectrum - maybe he doesn’t subscribe to it at all - I am speaking generally....
Newt is the best option to take on the Kenyan, who has WAY more baggage than he does, and once the Kenyan’s murky past sees the light of day there will be a mudslide engulfing him.
“Not only does Santorum argue for an expansion of the welfare state as the proper way to ensure that “all Americans…contribute to the general welfare,” and not only does he dismiss criticisms that his view represents “an extended version of compassionate conservatism” or “big government conservatism,” but he actually claims that increasing the size and scope of government, and its role in growing the welfare state, represents “the genuine conservatism our Founders envisioned.””
Yeah, Rickster, that’s why Madison, Jefferson, et al. insisted on federal government food stamps, mandated health insurance, WIC, Head Start, No Child Gets an Education, housing subsidies, etc., etc.
Be compassionate with your own money, Rickster. Keep your hands off mine and keep your big government nose out of my affairs.
Big government, compassionate “conservatism” barf alert.
bm
** A Massively Expanded Welfare State is ‘The Genuine Conservatism our Founders Envisioned’**
I can’t believe Santorum said this. Now I have to read the article.
Based on Santorum’s original quote, I don’t see any advocacy of a welfare state, quite the contrary. The fact that the gays hate him so much means that he’s doing something right.