Archbishop Dolan and Congressman Ryan: Catholic Social Doctrine, 2012 Campaign

Catholic Online ^ | 5/24/11 | Deacon Keith Fournier

[tcg]

Congressman Paul Ryan, a devout Catholic wrote a respectful letter to Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York in which he discussed his now controversial proposals for dealing with the United State's looming budgetary crisis.

...What makes this letter important is the Congressman explains the rationale behind his proposals within the framework of a sincere effort to apply the principles found within Catholic Social Thought. In fact, he cites the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church throughout the letter referring to both the obligation of solidarity and its application in light of the principle of subsidiarity.

In response, Archbishop Dolan wrote a gracious response to the Congressman on May 18, 2011 which can be read in its entirety here. He began with these words: "Thank you for your kind and enlightening letter of April 29, 2011. I deeply appreciate your letter's assurances of your continued attention to the guidance of Catholic social justice in the current delicate budget considerations in Congress... As is so clear from your correspondence, the light of our faith - anchored in the Bible, the tradition of the Church, and the Natural Law - can help illumine and guide solid American constitutional wisdom. Thus I commend your letter's attention to the important values of fiscal responsibility; sensitivity to the foundational role of the family; the primacy of the dignity of the human person and the protection of all human life; a concrete solicitude for the poor and the vulnerable, especially those who are hungry and homeless, without work or in poverty; and putting into practice the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity, here at home and internationally within the context of a commitment to the common good shared by government and other mediating institutions alike."

[tcg]

'This exchange of correspondence will be, I trust, but the beginning of an ongoing dialogue, in service, I pray, of the country we love and the religious convictions that have always inspired sound citizenship and generous public service.' This exchange between the Congressman and the Archbishop is an example of the proper application of the principles and truths offered by Catholic Social Doctrine to be used in policy initiatives...Are we finally at a point when we can have a genuine discussion on the issues which matter most by beginning with the principles which cannot be compromised such as the dignity of every human life? Did Archbishop Dolan and Congressman Ryan just rescue Catholic Social Doctrine for the 2012 Campaign?

[SumProVita]

“In fact, he cites the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church throughout the letter...

Impressive! Ryan is one sharp and morally courageous guy.

[Marty62]

My Question to Church officials is: Which is the moral answer to the problem: Doing nothing and destroy the program for millions in 10 to 15 years OR restructuring the program to save it for millions? (Ryans plan for restructuring)

Ryan is on the side of true morality.

I wish he would run for Pres.

[Notwithstanding]

This is excellent. We need more of this: spineful bishops joining with devout Catholic lawmakers to propagate the truth about atheistic socialism and about ordered liberty.

[SumProVita]

“Ryan is on the side of true morality.”

You got it!!!!!!!!!!

(And Ryan is following Church teaching...though there may be a few Church officials who are unaware/don’t follow/distort that teaching.)

[Buckeye McFrog]

but they’ll serve up Communion to Teddy Kennedy every Sunday for four decades while he repeatedly violated the Sacrament of Marriage and never met an abortion he didn’t like. Un-Freakin’-Believable!!!

[SamuraiScot]

Catholic social justice

It is refreshing to see Abp. Dolan mention "subsidiarity" in his response. That word is always absent when the real enthusiasts of "Catholic social justice" get going, since they are primarily believers in the state, rather than God. The pro-amnesty, anti-free-market, anti-capital punishment (and tacitly pro-abortion and woman-priest) crowd who talk loudest about "social justice" are the Pharisees of our day: taking the laws of men—or the idiocy of men—and trying to enforce them as the commandments of God.

[Sergio]

bkmk

[Mrs. Don-o]

Bump to use and use again.

[Notwithstanding]

Sam,

You are partially correct.

It is my experience that the socialists with Catholic pretensions absolutely LOVE the word “subsidiarity” - but only as applied to the hierarchical Church.

Their penchant for “subsidiarity” is part and parcel of their stale old protestant cry for democratic election of pastors and bishops and female ordination and homosexual everything and abortion and birth control and everything else that is heretical and/or heterodox.

It is very telling that they HATE the word in one context and LOVE in another.

Interestingly, Saint Augustine’s aphorism “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity” is valid in both religious and political matters. While they may like this concept, such socialists with Catholic pretensions grossly err in identifying essentials and non-essentials. What is more, they are rarely charitable when they are referred to magisterial, doctrinal or dogmatic explanations of what is and is not essential.

[frogjerk]

Bump