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J. D. Vance and 'Catholic Integralism'.

reddogs

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President Trump's VP pick converted to Catholicism and to a extreme view of control over society, known as "Catholic integralism". Here is a article on "Catholic Integralism".
"Since his nomination as the Republican candidate for vice president, focus has intensified on J.D. Vance's religious beliefs and how they connect to his politics.

Vance is a convert to Catholicism and seems to have the same policy positions that many American Catholic conservatives hold: opposition to abortion, support for the traditional family, skepticism regarding liberal immigration policies and efforts to combat climate change, and advocacy of economic tariffs.

Some news reports have also referenced Vance's apparent association with Catholic Integralism, although Vance himself has not addressed the issue publicly.

So, now might be a good time to ask: What is Catholic Integralism?

What is Catholic Integralism?
The basic position of Catholic Integralism is that there are two areas of human life: the spiritual and the temporal, or worldly. Catholic Integralists argue that the spiritual and temporal should be integrated – with the spiritual being the dominant partner. This means that religious values, specifically Christian ones, should guide government policies.

Catholic Integralists disagree about how to achieve this integration between the spiritual and temporal. Some argue that Christians, particularly Catholics, should have advisory roles in government and lead by example. Other Catholic Integralists want a more comprehensive approach to organizing society along Christian principles.

Catholic Integralists share an opposition to liberalism. Generally, liberalism is understood as a political philosophy that supports limits on the government's authority and constitutional protections for the rights of individuals and minorities. But Catholic Integralists argue that liberalism is incapable of establishing deep forms of human community because it values individualism and liberty above all things.

The irony, from the Catholic Integralist perspective, is that liberalism is not really that liberal. Instead, liberalism demands – and enforces – adherence to a certain set of values, like tolerance and pluralism, that prevents creating a social order in which human beings can realize a larger, God-given meaning for their lives."..GOP VP nominee J.D. Vance is linked to Catholic Integralism. What is it? • Rhode Island Current
 

RandyPNW

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President Trump's VP pick converted to Catholicism and to a extreme view of control over society, known as "Catholic integralism". Here is a article on "Catholic Integralism".
"Since his nomination as the Republican candidate for vice president, focus has intensified on J.D. Vance's religious beliefs and how they connect to his politics.

Vance is a convert to Catholicism and seems to have the same policy positions that many American Catholic conservatives hold: opposition to abortion, support for the traditional family, skepticism regarding liberal immigration policies and efforts to combat climate change, and advocacy of economic tariffs.

Some news reports have also referenced Vance's apparent association with Catholic Integralism, although Vance himself has not addressed the issue publicly.

So, now might be a good time to ask: What is Catholic Integralism?

What is Catholic Integralism?
The basic position of Catholic Integralism is that there are two areas of human life: the spiritual and the temporal, or worldly. Catholic Integralists argue that the spiritual and temporal should be integrated – with the spiritual being the dominant partner. This means that religious values, specifically Christian ones, should guide government policies.

Catholic Integralists disagree about how to achieve this integration between the spiritual and temporal. Some argue that Christians, particularly Catholics, should have advisory roles in government and lead by example. Other Catholic Integralists want a more comprehensive approach to organizing society along Christian principles.

Catholic Integralists share an opposition to liberalism. Generally, liberalism is understood as a political philosophy that supports limits on the government's authority and constitutional protections for the rights of individuals and minorities. But Catholic Integralists argue that liberalism is incapable of establishing deep forms of human community because it values individualism and liberty above all things.

The irony, from the Catholic Integralist perspective, is that liberalism is not really that liberal. Instead, liberalism demands – and enforces – adherence to a certain set of values, like tolerance and pluralism, that prevents creating a social order in which human beings can realize a larger, God-given meaning for their lives."..GOP VP nominee J.D. Vance is linked to Catholic Integralism. What is it? • Rhode Island Current
Thanks for bringing this up! By this definition I would almost be a Catholic Integralist! The way I state it is almost always misunderstood--perhaps a poor choice of words on my part?

I'm a Theocrat in the mold of God's call to Israel to be a Christian monarchy or state. Even though God did not originally want the monarchy, He always called for the entire nation to adopt His own set of laws.

I would agree with the problem of liberalism mentioned above. It is interested in freedom only insofar as it can establish anti-theocratic values so that religious liberties extend only to those who would replace Christian values with non-Christian values. Of course, this is an evolving mechanism so that once begun it cannot be stopped. Christian values are allowed to remain so that they can be eroded over time.

I'm not, however, an activist nationalist. I don't advocate for an overthrow of an established non-theocratic order. A Christian "theocracy" can thrive only where the large majority of a population subscribes to it. Once determined to be otherwise, Christians can only witness to what they believe, entrusting their "truth" to the consciences of the public.

Whether in a Christian theocracy or not, it is the job of Christians to testify to the Kingdom of God. The best political form is a Christian State. Falling short of this we can rest upon our hope in a future Kingdom of God where one God and one Law reigns supreme for the good of all.
 
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o_mlly

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Generally, liberalism is understood as a political philosophy that supports limits on the government's authority and constitutional protections for the rights of individuals and minorities.
I think you are confusing "libertarianism" with "liberalism". The former, as you have correctly described, and Catholic Social teaching supports, favors a small central government, the latter, aka socialism, which Catholic Social teaching does not support, favors big government.
 
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RandyPNW

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I think you are confusing "libertarianism" with "liberalism". The former, as you have correctly described, and Catholic Social teaching supports, favors a small central government, the latter, aka socialism, which Catholic Social teaching does not support, favors big government.
Liberals generally want freedom. But they seem to want to support only their definition of what they should be free to do. Whether Communist, Nazi, Atheist, or Radical Activist they want the freedom to act outside the bounds of Christian standards.

Libertarians indeed wish to have more freedoms, as well. But often they are more conservative with respect to Christian standards, and purely wish the government to shrink, with all of its regulations and red tape.
 
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o_mlly

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Liberals generally want freedom. But they seem to want to support only their definition of what they should be free to do. Whether Communist, Nazi, Atheist, or Radical Activist they want the freedom to act outside the bounds of Christian standards.
Liberals, big central governments advocates, want to politically control those who they consider the non-elites, aka, the deplorables. They are only bounded by their own subjective notions as to what is good for everyone. And wish to do so on a grand scale e.g., the The Green New Deal.
 
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