Lucifer, The First Liberal

The Wanderer ^ | March 6, 2002 | Dr. Arthur M. Hippler

[Forgiven_Sinner]

In his encyclical on The Nature of True Liberty (Libertas Praestantissimum), Leo XIII makes the remarkable claim that liberalism is diabolic in its origins. "But many there are who follow in the footsteps of Lucifer, and adopt as their own his rebellious cry, I will not serve; and consequently substitute for true liberty what is sheer and most foolish license. Such, for instance, are the men belonging to that widely spread and powerful organization, who, usurping the name of liberty, style themselves liberals" (Libertas Praestantissimum, n.14). Although the Holy Father’s comparison may seem hyperbolic, nonetheless the principles of liberalism mirror the Devil’s original revolt.

While many political opinions and projects are lumped together under the name of liberalism, we should remind ourselves of its most fundamental basis. As Leo XIII explains, liberalism begins with the rejection of both natural and divine law; the "followers of liberalism deny the existence of any divine authority to which obedience is due, and proclaim that every man is the law to himself; from which arises that ethical system which they style independent morality" (LP, n.15). Morality comes neither from God nor human nature.

For the liberal, morality is created by the free choice of society. Whether one studies Hobbes or Rousseau, one finds no law higher than the human law. In the words of Pope Leo, "just as every man’s individual reason is his only rule of life, so the collective reason of the community should be the supreme guide in the management of all public affairs" (ibid.). This divorce of the moral law from politics affects our understanding of democracy up to the present day, as Pope John Paul notes in Evangelium Vitae (n. 70).

This rejection of God’s rule through the moral law is the sin of Lucifer. As St. Thomas explains, the Devil rejected the law of God for a disordered form of freedom: "The end of the Devil is the aversion of the rational creature from God; hence from the beginning he has endeavored to lead man from obeying the divine precept. But aversion from God has the nature of an end, inasmuch as it is sought for under the appearance of liberty, according to Jer. 2:20: ‘Of old time thou hast broken my yoke, thou hast burst my bands, and thou saidst, I will not serve’" (IIIa, Q.8, art.7).

This rebellion was imitated by our first parents, when they decided to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of God and Evil, and "be like God." While sharing in the divine image and likeness is part of our perfection, St. Thomas teaches that man desired this divine likeness in a disordered way by eating of the forbidden fruit: "The first man sinned chiefly by coveting God’s likeness as regards knowledge of good and evil, according to the serpent’s instigation, namely that by his own natural power he might decide what was good, and what was evil for him to do" (IIaIIae, Q.163, a.2). Here is the liberal principle in its first expression: Man alone should decide good and evil apart from God.

While many understand liberalism as a freedom for certain political equality and civil rights, more fundamentally liberalism is a freedom from the moral law and the teaching authority of the Church. One cannot speak of "Catholic liberals" without contradiction, or at the very least, equivocation. Liberalism, like socialism and Communism, has been condemned by Pope after Pope in the social encyclicals. If we are tempted to minimize the evils of this error, we would do well to remind ourselves that Pope Leo XIII presents Lucifer to us as the original liberal.

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(Dr. Arthur M. Hippler is the director of the Office of Justice and Peace in the Diocese of La Crosse, Wis.)

[OPS4]

Civil disobedience is a form of anarchy. Religion in todays terms has nothing to do with it. If a group is going to disrupt and kill civilians in some relgious coup, then they will need to be dealt with.

Satanic verses as Rushdy wrote, is what has created the terror networks in the traditions of satanic actions.

I as a Christian do not believe in the inquistion or the like, I just want those who terrorize the worlds good souls,
brought to a just end, by the hand of God.

Ops4 God BLess America!

[rightwingreligiousfanatic]

What a fantastic (and true) title!

Bookmarked and Bumped!

[LuisBasco]

The next thing you know some wiseacre will compare Lucifer to the Clintons.

[OPS4]

That has allready bee done! And how true it is.

Ops4 God Bless America!

[headsonpikes]

Disestablishmentarian bump!

I yam what I yam! LOL!

Actually, no word better describes my politics. Disestablish every conventional, politically-correct authority-- in the schools, in the courts,....

...then we would have a truly free society.

;^)

[Theyknow]

Socialism is not liberalism. They are very different political philosophies, though both misguided. The Government was founded under God but is certainly not a theocracy, and the fact that the Church and State remain separate is a proud foundation of American Democracy. The fact that faith or the lack of it is tolerated and even celebrated in the United States is what makes us free. If you think that this Country can remain free but only tolerate Christian beliefs then you are not a patriotic American.

[OPS4]

Yeah, like the pictures of the Watts riots.

Ops4 God Bless America!

[OPS4]

No! Just the religious beliefs that are outlined by Thomas Jefferson and Sam Adams, it had to do with the God of Abraham and the Son of God.

As Rushdy wrote, The Satanic verses are what has terrorized the middle east, it is hidden in the Koran and the rewrites,
by religious zealots.

Any religion that accepts Satanic Laws, should be banned,
since Good will prevail over evil, putting evil in the wrong I might guess, even by the standard of Ben Franklin as written in Poor Richards Almanac.

So much for the non-liberal socialist views that would
allow satan any room to be heard.

Ops4 God BLess America!

[headsonpikes]

Sure, Watts.....

I find you disingenuous.

[BraveMan]

The positions asserted in this article are insidious and deceptive; therein lies the danger. The inference is made that one is bad while the other is good, when in fact all have sinned; you, me, them.

Romans 3
22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

[BraveMan]

Why not have a sense of humor about it?

Respectfully, I don't think it is wise to give opposition bucketfuls of ammunition like this. This is not the way to win minds and souls . . .

[OPS4]

Well, I find it to be a great comparison in Civil Disobedeince brought on by Liberal Rhetoric.

Ops4 God bLess America!

[OPS4]

Well, I find it to be a great comparison in Civil Disobedeince brought on by Liberal Rhetoric.

Ops4 God bLess America!

[RAT Patrol]

This is not the way to win minds and souls Perhaps not. I don't think this was about persuading anyone. I found it funny I guess because I do think liberalism is evil. I really do. They call good evil and evil good. They love smut and are disgusted by things like abstinence only education. They are pro-deviancy but want the gov't to confiscate my property to pay for the resulting social problems and diseases. They refuse to recognize the human rights of an unborn child. They want to destroy a reap what you sow culture and replace it with a plunder the efforts of others culture (they are cultural looters). With freedom comes the freedom to fail, but they want me to guarantee their high-risk behaviors. They think nothing of falsely accusing innocents of things like racism if it will advance them to power.

I could go on, but you get the picture.

[OPS4]

Yes, and you are right on. My beef is with those who would use this article to raise the premise, evil is a religion, and or satanic roots thereof , are an acceptable alternative religion to Gods law, as laid out by Abraham,
and the Son of God.

Ops4 God Bless America!

[Theyknow]

Show me where in the Constitution Christianity is endorsed as the national religion. Freedom of Religious expression is a benchmark American value. The Establishment Clause of the Bill of Rights was included for that very purpose. It is wrong-headed and absolutely anti-American to exclude religious views or to establish a state religion. This is NOT a theocracy, read your Constitution and Bill of Rights. Your interpretation of American history is simply wishful thinking on your part and has nothing to do with the Constitution. America is free, like it or not.

[OPS4]

No one said it is. I say that evil as in satanism, is not acceptable as a foundation in our constitution. Good works as defined in the Old and New Testaments guided this counrty through its toughest times.

When people try to use this post to make satan just as acceptable as the God of Good Works, I will always take the issue that the founding fathers had never intended this to be the case.

Theology is not the issue, the Truth is!

Ops4 God BLess America!

[Theyknow]

Show me where in the constitution Christianity is endorsed as the national religion. Freedom of Religious expression is a benchmark American value. The Establishment Clause of the Bill of Rights was included for that very purpose. It is wrong-headed and absolutely anti-American to exclude religious views or to establish a state religion. This is NOT a theocracy, read your Constitution and Bill of Rights. Your interpretation of American history is simply wishful thinking on your part and has nothing to do with the Constitution. America is free, like it or not.

[OPS4]

Are you duplicating? Please have a new thought!

Ops4 God Bless America!