A “liberal Catholic,” in the popular sense of the term “liberal,” is one who isn’t paying attention.
The “conservative Catholics” actually believe in G-d!
Encyclical of Pope John XXIII, On Establishing Universal Peace In Truth, Justice, Charity, And Liberty, April 11, 1963 Excerpts:
“Man’s personal dignity requires besides that he enjoy freedom and be able to make up his own mind when he acts.
In his association with his fellows, therefore, there is every reason why his recognition of rights, observance of duties, and many-sided collaboration with other men, should be primarily a matter of his own personal decision.
Each man should act on his own initiative, conviction, and sense of responsibility, not under the constant pressure of external coercion or enticement.
There is nothing human about a society that is welded together by force.
Far from encouraging, as it should, the attainment of man’s progress and perfection, it is merely an obstacle to his freedom.”
“Hence, a regime which governs solely or mainly by means of threats and intimidation or promises of reward, provides men with no effective incentive to work for the common good.
And even if it did, it would certainly be offensive to the dignity of free and rational human beings.”
“Consequently, laws and decrees passed in contravention of the moral order, and hence of the divine will, can have no binding force in conscience, since ‘it is right to obey God rather than men.’”
Well done. May I add, however, that in my opinion, because government “does” so much these days for the “poor” that we are not as conscious as we ought to be of their existence. I have been a volunteer at times where we find that our services are pre-empted by some government program or are supplemented in some way so as to lessen both the impact of the voluntarism and the motivation for volunteering. I wish the Church would take back more of this work from the State—and too often, the Church has been anxious itself to benefit from government handouts, which has diminished its capacity to help.
CINO