Musings of an accidental conservative...

[Michie]

I have long disliked the label “conservative.” I mean, there’s nothing wrong with it per se, but I’m not a political ideologue. I am a Catholic who believes what the Church teaches, and for that reason alone I’m often called a “conservative” these days.

Musings of an accidental conservative...

 

[Michie]

The blog of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas

I have long disliked the label “conservative.” I mean, there’s nothing wrong with it per se, but I’m not a political ideologue. I am a Catholic who believes what the Church teaches, and for that reason alone I’m often called a “conservative” these days.

After reading Bishop Finn’s recent post in which he courageously affirms that the National Catholic Reporter, long considered a leading voice of “liberal Catholicism,” should not be considered a “Catholic publication,” I figured the time was ripe to give my top ten list of reasons why “liberal” and “conservative” are not useful terms when it comes to Catholic beliefs. These are in no particular order:

(1) Term Limits
“Conservative” and “liberal” are already entrenched as political terms with their own specific meaning. The terms are necessarily adversarial and divisive when used in the context of the Church, since they imply a struggle for supremacy between two more/less equally legitimate camps. With St. Paul we might ask, “Is Christ divided?” (1 Cor. 1:13). When we try to use two emotionally charged terms from one context and apply them in a completely different context, of course there will be misunderstanding exacerbated by strong emotional responses.

(2) Not in Catholic Lexicon
Okay, when we hear the terms “conservative” and “liberal” we think of political terms. But let’s go further: they are not Catholic terms in a strict sense. I’ve been though all 2,865 paragraphs of the Catechism of the Catholic Church many times, and I don’t recall ever seeing those terms used. Instead, the Catholic Church has its own vocabulary to describe one′s relationship to the Church. Shouldn’t we use that instead? The problem of course is that many consider themselves Americans first, and Christians or Catholics second, so they let American culture define the rules of engagement even within the Church. Perhaps during this Year of Faith we can strive to recover a more fully Catholic worldview.

(3) Radio, Radio (second Elvis Costello allusion this month, but accidents happen)
We tend to think of “liberal” and conservative” as two extremes on a continuum, sort of like a radio dial. The stations at the left side of the AM dial (in the 500s or 600s, say) would be “liberal” and the stations at the far right (1500s and 1600s) would be “conservative.” Both have a place on the radio dial, though people might gravitate toward the numbers in the middle away from the two extremes, where most of the more popular stations tend to be located.

Similarly, we often hear of Catholics who are 100% with the Church described as “conservative” or even “ultraconservative,” while those who dissent from the Church on hot-button moral issues are called “moderate.” Maybe a Catholic who is truly a Catholic is considered a “conservative” by political pundits, but all Catholics must be “conservative” when it comes to upholding Christian moral teaching in the public square. What are we saying, that being “too Catholic” or “too religious” is one extreme, and being hostile to God, religion, and all public morals is the other extreme, such that the desirable middle ground is to be “sorta Catholic” or “mildly dissident”? Yet I’ve personally run into that sort of thinking many times in the Church.

(4) Conversion
Nobody should go around calling people heretics or apostates. Yet we go way too far in the other direction. We’re not willing to speak hard truths with charity. We’re not willing to say that any position that conflicts with established Catholic teaching on faith and morals is heresy. Instead, we call it “liberal,” which is then taken as a legitimate, perhaps even chic, way of being in the Church. While most people don’t want to consider themselves heretics, many consider the “liberal” tag a badge of honor. My point here is that those who part ways with the Church should be called back into full communion. We’re less inclined to do so when we regularly use euphemisms to conceal the need for repentance and conversion. Let’s face it: When we tolerate dissent and heresy rather than call to conversion, we are not truly loving our brothers and sisters in Christ.

(5) Good Liberal vs. Bad Liberal

Continued- Musings of an Accidental Conservative «

 

[Michie]

*dp*

 

[cathoaholicliz]

Uncalled for. If you cared to read the article you'd see it has to do with Church teaching. Not politics.

But for someone who disagrees with Church teachings they'd automatically call this person a "hack for the Republican party"

Whatever that means.

If this were written by an English man what would she say about their party affiliation?


I keep saying it. You will get Katherine's venom if you practice and follow your faith and accept Church teachings. I have only been here for a few weeks and that is blatantly obvious to me.

 

[Michie]

But for someone who disagrees with Church teachings they'd automatically call this person a "hack for the Republican party"

Whatever that means.

If this were written by an English man what would she say about their party affiliation?


I keep saying it. You will get Katherine's venom if you practice and follow your faith and accept Church teachings. I have only been here for a few weeks and that is blatantly obvious to me.

Yeah, a lot of things are obvious. Like not reading the article & just taking every opportunity for a personal attack.

 

[cathoaholicliz]

He must be pro-life and anti-gay marriage or something.

I'm pro-life

"POLITICAL HACK!!"

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

I'm a 49ers fan...so I now plan to call Ravens fans political hacks!
It's sad that there's so much labeling going on in here and on venom-laden places like Catholic Answers Forum. Orthodox forums can get weird at times and the people can be quirky, but name-calling is pretty rare. I hear the "you're a cafeteria Catholic phony!" a lot on Catholic forums as well as liberal and conservative obsessions. It's odd and unfortunate.

staff edit .

 

[Michie]

Both sides are guilty of it. But if you don't wear any label but your faith & take each issue individually, somebody will do it for you.

Weird really does not cover it.

Address the issues, not the people. Disagree on whatever it is & stop hating on people you disagree with. Is it that hard on a bulletin board? LOL!

If it is, well maybe introspection is needed. I'm not towing anyone's ideological line just so I can be treated as a fellow human being. Their issue, not mine.

As far as the super bowl, all political hacks. I don't like football. I disagree with it & all lovers of football are hacks as well. Blah!

*Surely we can turn this into a mudslinging partisan political argument somehow*

I'm a 49ers fan...so I now plan to call Ravens fans political hacks!
It's sad that there's so much labeling going on in here and on venom-laden places like Catholic Answers Forum. Orthodox forums can get weird at times and the people can be quirky, but name-calling is pretty rare. I hear the "you're a cafeteria Catholic phony!" a lot on Catholic forums as well as liberal and conservative obsessions. It's odd and unfortunate.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Aww, shucks, Michie. Thanks a lot. This dumb football fan falls right into that there category! Thanks for the self-esteem boost! :o

As far as the super bowl, all political hacks. I don't like football. I disagree with it & all lovers of football are hacks as well. Blah!

*Surely we can turn this into a mudslinging partisan political argument somehow*

 

[Michie]

Aww, shucks, Michie. Thanks a lot. This dumb football fan falls right into that there category! Thanks for the self-esteem boost! :o

Political hack!

You should not like football because Obama said if he had a son he is uncertain if he'd let him play.

If you still like football knowing how Obama feels...well that just speaks volumes as to which direction you are leaning.

I heard he is planning on banning football along with every gun on earth. I think it is written in somewhere in the HHS mandate.

You.
Should.
Be.
ASHAMED!

Barbarian.

 

[Michie]

And... Beyoncé lip synced at the inauguration yet she will sing live at the super bowl? Really?

Tsk..tsk...

 

[FreeinChrist]

MOD HAT

This thread has undergone a clean up. The topic of the thread is in the OP - please stay on topic.

 

[WarriorAngel]

All i know is - when i had my experience - i changed.
I guess i am strong leaning 'conservative' moderate.

But if you are in step with the teachings - and try your best to follow them per how they are genuinely laid out - the reality of them - you are called a few names.