Again no argument from me on pro-life an moral issues,
And there are some priests against socialism (including Pope John Paul), but as a whole the church has taken a very leftward lurch as borne out by the US bishops. Anyone who uses the term “social justice” is not on our side.
“Catholic social ministry begins and ends with Jesus Christ,” he said. “If it doesn’t, it isn’t Catholic.”
~Archbishop Chaput
Please remember that these Bernardin Boys (Bishops previously appointed that leaned left) are being replaced by quite conservative bishops announced almost every month by Pope Benedict.
We are awaiting one in our Archdiocese too.
Peter Cardinal Turkson, President of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, has a message for Catholics in America, particularly those involved in social justice ministry, that could put a damper on the political machinations of the Shadow Party.Cardinal Turkson: It would be useful if we just observed our sense of justice as our ability to fulfill the demands of the relationships in which we stand.
This is in contrast to socialism, he explained, which is an ideology in which private property and private interests are totally placed in the service of government policies. What the Pope proposes in ‘Caritas in Veritate,’ said Cardinal Turkson, is ‘achieving the common good without sacrificing personal, private interests, aspirations and desires.’
Cardinal Turkson said the Council was also surprised that the Pope’s concept of the ‘gift,’ was perceived in some circles as encouraging government welfare handouts. In ‘Caritas in Veritate,’ Pope Benedict described the concept of “gift” as a way to understand God’s love for men and women in his gift of life and his gift of Jesus.One of the key principles of Catholic social thought is known as the principle of subsidiarity.
This tenet holds that nothing should be done by a larger and more complex organization which can be done as well by a smaller and simpler organization.In other words, any activity which can be performed by a more decentralized entity should be. This principle is a bulwark of limited government and personal freedom. It conflicts with the passion for centralization and bureaucracy characteristic of the Welfare State.