[Catholics Only] Americanism (ideology) vs. Americanism (heresy)

[Gnarwhal]

So I was googling this and there were two separate Wikipedia articles, distinguished as ideology and heresy. Is there really a difference of the two or would you say that ultimately the latter condemns the former?

Just for reference:

Americanism (ideology) - Wikipedia

Americanism (heresy) - Wikipedia

 

[Rhamiel]

So I was googling this and there were two separate Wikipedia articles, distinguished as ideology and heresy. Is there really a difference of the two or would you say that ultimately the latter condemns the former?

Just for reference:

Americanism (ideology) - Wikipedia

Americanism (heresy) - Wikipedia

I would say the two are very different
Not totally disconnected but still a wide gulf

the ideology is just patriotism and valuing American ideals

the second was a kind of Congregationalist idea of giving the parishioners oversight over the pastor and other concessions to make Catholicism more palpable to Protestants

now you could make the argument that making the church more democratic is in keeping with American Ideals but there were many American Protestant denominations at the time (1800’s) and now that are hierarchical and are not seen as “un American”

 

[zippy2006]

From the foregoing it is manifest, beloved son, that we are not able to give approval to those views which, in their collective sense, are called by some “Americanism.” But if by this name are to be understood certain endowments of mind which belong to the American people, just as other characteristics belong to various other nations, and if, moreover, by it is designated your political condition and the laws and customs by which you are governed, there is no reason to take exception to the name.

-Pope Leo XIII, Testem Benevolentiae​

In general, yes there is a significant difference, but I don't know a great deal about the errors called by the name "Americanism."

• Testem Benevolentiae Nostrae - Papal Encyclicals
  
• CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Testem Benevolentiae
  
• The Americanism Heresy: What Is It? Is It Still Around? - Fatima Center

 

[chevyontheriver]

From the foregoing it is manifest, beloved son, that we are not able to give approval to those views which, in their collective sense, are called by some “Americanism.” But if by this name are to be understood certain endowments of mind which belong to the American people, just as other characteristics belong to various other nations, and if, moreover, by it is designated your political condition and the laws and customs by which you are governed, there is no reason to take exception to the name.

-Pope Leo XIII, Testem Benevolentiae​

In general, yes there is a significant difference, but I don't know a great deal about the errors called by the name "Americanism."

• Testem Benevolentiae Nostrae - Papal Encyclicals
  
• CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Testem Benevolentiae
  
• The Americanism Heresy: What Is It? Is It Still Around? - Fatima Center

It goes back to the days of archbishop Ireland and Fr. Isaac Hecker. Not sure it wasn't more hype than substance, and it passed. Archbishop Ireland survived it and so did Isaac Hecker. Hecker would look today like a traditionalist. The Paulists today are more or less kaput, having survived Americanism only to have fallen deathly sick from the current manifestation of Modernism.

The specific issue was a French translation of a book about Isaac Hecker. That translation was rather loose. It's French introduction was even worse. Not true to Hecker's actual thought. But crazy enough to earn a condemnation.