A Tale of Two Catholic Social Teachings

I'm begining to see a corellary to the Secret-Agent Man-created ConPrud rule. He once wisely observed that dissident Catholics of the left excused their dissidence by appealing to conscience. He also observed that dissident Catholics of the right often excused their dissidence by appealing to the prudential judgement on matters where Catholic Teaching permits such prudence.

My correllary to the ConPrud rule is as follows. The "Social Justice" wing of the Catholic Church in America, some of whom dissent to the left, will wildly proclaim the solidarity to the poor principle of Catholic Social Teaching and ignore Subsidiarity. The "Neocon" wing of the Catholic Church in America, some of whom dissent to the right, will boldly seize on the principle of subsidiarity and then remain strangely silent on solidarity with the poor.

In other words, they allow their political sacred cows to trump their Catholic Faith. The Fools become Foolables, whether to the right or left.

Consider the following demonstrations of this corellary. Exibit A:

Before we began our projects we had a three-day in-depth discussion of Catholic social teaching and what it has to say about the effects of globalization, immigration and the divide between rich and poor. We also received a quick overview of the culture, spirituality and cosmology of the indigenous people with whom we would be working. We were reminded that we were the ones in need of education and orientation into their way of life, which is at once practical and profound, because they are so close to the earth and so close to God.

And this:

Women make beautiful embroidered dresses that sell for $5; the price in the U.S. would be about $80. I bought an exquisitely carved flute for $10 and have felt badly ever since for having bargained the artisan to such a low price.

The experience has helped me reflect on U.S. assumptions that we can go to developing countries and buy stuff cheaply. Do we consider the cost to people's dignity and livelihood? Does haggling do justice to a community's hard work and artistry when it allows for only a subsistence-level lifestyle for themselves and their children?

Any questions so far?

Ok. Exibit B:

The nanny state, with its bloated, unaccountable bureaucracy and its centralized power, stands in direct contradiction to the principle of subsidiarity in Catholic social teaching. Subsidiarity means that a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order, depriving the latter of its functions, but rather should support it in case of need and help to coordinate its activity with the activities of the rest of society, always with a view to the common good.

People who expect the state to do everything for them will come to do nothing for themselves, whereas a healthy democracy depends on notions such as self-governance and moral responsibility supported by vibrant religious faith and practice. It is no surprise that Europe’s woes continue as governmental power grows and faith lags.

And this:

The political class in European countries like France and Italy is nothing short of imperious. It simply does what it wants, with little or no regard for the well-being of the average citizen, and at great economic and even spiritual cost. When the rare reformer proposes some necessary changes, such as lower taxes, less regulation, pension or labor-market flexibility, the unions and other vested interests come down on this person like a ton of bricks. And nothing changes.

Any Questions here?

Have you observed the corellary in action?

The good sister truly feels for, bonds with and commits her life to the Poor. She bemoans the economic reality that demand for their goods does not justify the profits their efforts should bring. Has she mentioned subsidiarity anywhere?

The gentleman waxes poetic about the difference between the "Nanny State" and the proper view of government from subsidiarity. Is there any mention of why Europeans may value the goals of a Welfare State? Say, about not leaving anyone behind? Such a call for solidarity appears missing from the gentleman's commentary.

Now, I tend to sympathize more with the Catholic Social Teaching exortions of the Catholic Right more than the Catholic Left. Subsidiarity is in such deterioration in our society that I wonder just how totalitarian has our 'lil Nanny State consumer-state become. You know what I'm talking about. "Give it to me yesterday I want it!" Therefore, talk of government knows best to help the poor get an impatient hearing from me followed by a first-rate hanging.

This is no excuse to ignore the poor and just assume that they're all temporarily poor. Or richer than developing world poor. (What about them?) Or just a casualty of the system. No. We fools--especially we Roman Catholic Fools--had better commit to the marines' mantra: We don't leave anyone behind." Because if we do, we leave Christ behind. That's who he said he'd be--one of the powerless. We don't get to wax majestic about an atheistically originating theory of economics, even if its free market enterprise. We find a way. A sensible one, but one, nonetheless.

Have I demonstrated the corellary? You decide.