Were Christians Always So Left-Wing?

American Thinker.com ^ | July 26., 2020 | Eileen F. Toplansky

[Kaslin]

Those observing the cultural landscape in America attempt to understand why Jews vote for leftwing policies that run counter to their own safety and existence. But many Catholic institutions are also active in disseminating radical left-wing ideology. It was not always thus.

At this site, one can see the American Catholic pamphlet series on Communism that highlighted the dangers of this murderous ideology. The following were published in 1947:

• Communism and Fascism: two of a kind by Hermann Borchardt
• Communism means slavery by Henry William Chamberlin
• Enemy in our schools by Eugene Lyons

Regarding Eugene Lyons, Harry Stein has written:

[I]n The Red Decade, Lyons was, in fact, describing the Communist-dominated American Left of the Depression-wracked 1930s and 1940s. Lyons' observations [are] even more meaningful, for it is sobering to be confronted with how little has been gained by hard experience. The celebration of feelings over reason? The certainty of moral virtue? The disdain for tradition and the revising of history for ideological ends? The embrace of the latest definition of correct thought? Lyons was one of the most gifted reporters of his time, and among the bravest, and his story of the spell cast by Stalinist-tinged social-justice activism over that day's purported best and brightest — literary titans, Hollywood celebrities, leading academics, religious leaders, media heavies — would be jaw-dropping if it weren't so eerily familiar.

[Bulwyf]

Excellent comment. Those two are not the same thing.

[null and void]

But my recollection of old timers that lived the Depression, is that communism was alive and well, getting it’s roots established in the 30’s.

My mom tells of well dressed couples showing up at the church offices and offering the priest/pastor/minister a weekly stipend if only they would let them write their sermons. They were communist propagandists.

You could tell which 'holy' men succumbed to the temptation, their kids had shoes...

[elpadre]

A true Christian cannot be a left wing communist/socialist. Because: (Galatians 5:22,23) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

[Think free or die]

"correct title should be were Roman Catholics always so left wing. The author conflates Roman Catholicism with all of Christianity"

Agreed. Unfortunately, many other Christian churches have also slid leftward. On an individual level, I find that people fail to distinguish the call for us to be charitable on a personal level from the demand that we take from our neighbors via taxes or stewardship campaigns to fund leftist causes.

[null and void]

What kind of car would Jesus drive today?

A Honda Accord.

See Acts 5-12

[null and void]

Hmmmm. 12 apostles, 1 Jesus, 1 Father, 1 Holy Ghost.

15 total.

I can’t fault your math...

[null and void]

Which disciple would drive the van? Or would Jesus insist on driving?

Your original question answers that:

What kind of care would Jesus drive today?

[metmom]

The title says *Christians* but the article is talking about Catholics.

Many people conflate the two as if the terms are interchangeable.

They are not.

[metmom]

It seems to me the Catholic Church wasn’t so left wing until the first Chrislam Pope Francis assumed the throne.

Sure it was. It has been for decades.

I grew up in highly Catholic Buffalo and they voted dem all the time.

I asked Catholics I worked with why they voted for dems especially in light of thier stance on abortion, , and their answer was consistently the same

*Because the democrats are "for the poor"*.

Yup, it even trumps Catholic teaching on abortion, and that was 40 years ago.

[LateBoomer]

Left wing churches preach the gospel of Social Justice. You’ll never see them crack open a Bible.

[Caipirabob]

There are no “left wing” Christians as all left wing ideologies place the state above God and free will to serve.

[Svartalfiar]

correct title should be were Roman Catholics always so left wing. The author conflates Roman Catholicism with all of Christianity

Catholics are right in the middle, there are plenty of way more left-wing Christian groups. And, if you broke Catholics apart into their kinda-denominations, you see a much wider spread just like the Protestants. Likewise, the Catholic Church has been the strongest ideal of Christianity, and thereby the largest target for left-wing infiltration. Just because we put a socialist in the papacy doesn't mean the majority of Catholics are super left-wing.

I will certainly agree, though, that I would expect Catholics to lean much more Repub than they do. But, that's what you get when Vatican II happens, the Church cares more about social justice than its members, and the Church has no problem with Easter-Christmas Catholics.



Going back through the Presidential elections, Catholics have been pretty evenly split every election. They barely went for Gore over Bush, then picked Bush over Kerry. Obama over McCain was their biggest split, at about 54-45, but then Obama-Romney was 50-48. Last time Catholics went for Trump, 52-45.

[Mom MD]

the author was talking about only catholics in the article when christian was used in the title. the title does not match the article. As far as catholics being left wing it has been going in for quite a while. Kennedy Pelosi and Biden - all ora tiding catholics in good standing

[Mom MD]

it is disgusting how many churches have fallen for the liberal lie

[Svartalfiar]

I forgot to note, this chart is somewhat older, so there's definitely been some changes. PC-USA, one of the big Methodists, and a couple other smaller ones have definitely trended way more Democrat, and I'm sure they've passed the Catholics by now. They allow not just female 'priests', but lesbian ones at that!

The big thing with Catholics is that almost all of them don't allow any religious influence on their political leanings the way many other religious groups' members do. And Catholic leadership that is firm and outspoken on major issues like abortion, are few and far between. Catholics tend to track exactly along with the national split on almost any issue or vote.

[Rurudyne]

Even the “safety net” was not and is not constitutional for the federal to be involved in. It isn’t just the far Left that needs to be ripped out by the roots but the moderate Left too.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

Thanks for the post; 7th dayers and Orthodox Christians surprised me...thought they were more to the right. THese stats also reflect the political norms of the region where these churches are the strongest.

[Crapgame]

Truth. Especially in New England, the first colonists established communitarian settlements. As they spread westward, they continued this practice always hoping to achieve that “utopia” on Earth. Christian beliefs might have been there at the outset, but they have long since served only as a veneer for the pursuit of “community” not faith.

[Svartalfiar]

the author was talking about only catholics in the article when christian was used in the title. the title does not match the article. As far as catholics being left wing it has been going in for quite a while. Kennedy Pelosi and Biden - all ora tiding catholics in good standing

Ah, I see. I didn't read too deep into the article itself.

But yes, while some priests have declared they won't permit Communion for Pelosi/Biden/others, they are few and far between. And, obviously, Church leadership completely ignores the very anti-Catholic stuff they spew.

[marktwain]

Cultural Marxist minions of The Frankfurt School began infiltrating seminaries long ago. They didn’t just infiltrate secular schools

Exactly.

Christians did not become "left wing". The Left worked a concerted effort to take over the churches, as they are one of the pillars of Western Civilization.