More Than A Sleeve

One of the problems we see in many Catholic political discourses is the way many quickly turn everything into a slogan. A catchphrase is an easy tool to use, but, theologically, it is dangerous. It over-simplifies. It ignores context. It is able to be used to support partial truths while distancing itself from the fullness of truth itself. Hans Urs von Balthasar said it well:

“A theology that develops from catchword principles is always a theology that levels out, mitigates and cheapens, and finally liquidates and sells out. Whether it wants to or not, it asymptotically approaches atheism.”[1]

If only the catchphrases we see in Catholic political talk were based upon an over-simplification of theological principles. Sadly we see the discourse is moving away from theology and the principles of faith and into secular philosophy and the adaptation of secular principles as if they were Catholic. How often do we see the catchphrase “limited government” spread around by Catholics? What exactly is it that they want? What about government is being limited? It’s clear, this catchphrase is used by many in regards to social programs, not moral policing, and indeed, many of the same people who desire “limited government” desire moral policy making which would make even the most dictatorial medieval monarch blush. Often limited government means “I want a government not to do what I wouldn’t like, but if I like it, it’s ok.”

This is also the problem with the so-called “five non-negotiables.” They were created to level out all social doctrine which is not in accord with their own political agenda. Many other intrinsic evils are ignored, and some end up being promoted by those same people who speak up about the five non-negotiables. There is a distancing from moral theology and the question of the gravity of evil, suggesting that those five are of the same gravity, and anything else is not as grave (when, in reality, such is often not the case). There is also a confusion as to “not negotiating the principle” with “not able to vote for someone who holds a wrong view on the principle.” It is the conflating of remote material cooperation with evil to the formal cooperation with evil.

Can it be shown any clearer that what von Balthasar said happened with catchwords is happening?

Let us look at another example.  Some might say that we must help “the most vulnerable,” thinking it only means babies in the womb, when in fact, most babies in the womb are in a far more secure situation than many homeless living on the streets (like alone migrant peoples wandering around the world). Again, there is a leveling out, using words which are used to help us turn a blind eye from real evil which lies before us. Many who are not under any harm are being treated as vulnerable are being treated as such as a way to excuse what is happening to other people, who are really vulnerable. Isn’t that how evil grows? Promoting some good, even a great good, at the expense of the fullness of the good? To use one’s opposition against abortion, to make catchwords promoting such opposition and to level out any other social concern, opens the path to great, great evils. We have seen it before. Will we do something now to prevent it from happening again?

What about atheism? von Balthasar said that such leveling out leads to atheism. Yet, isn’t that exactly the case? Can’t we see a nihilistic core behind the politic debates? When there is no consistent principle being applied, what meaning is there behind opposition to abortion? It is empty of value and just a tool to be used for power. Exactly what we expect from nihilists who will do whatever it takes to get power and stay in power. Isn’t this how and why someone such as an Ayn Rand can be promoted, with her ideas taken for granted and used to counter Catholic Social Doctrine, and used by the same people who claim to be against abortion? Clearly, the atheistic root is not hard to see if one wants to look for it. The willingness to neglect the spiritual core of the crisis before us can only come from a practical atheism, and practical atheism when not countered only leads to actual atheism (not the noble questioning of false gods, but the promotion of the human Titan as the killer of God and all that love for neighbor God expects of us).

Without a consistent spiritual core, it is easy to see how and why catchwords are capable of drawing so many to follow evil. Satan comes as an angel of light, with a beautiful appearance. The selfishness within shows the essential ugliness of Satanism and all that follows the Satanic egotistical ideal. No matter how often you try to put a good, beautiful picture over it (“I’m against abortion”), if you have not tied yourself to Christ, and serve the fullness of what is good, your life is sin and even your good will reveal itself to be the dirty rag it really is.

It’ s time to stop leveling out the good.

It’s time to put on the whole, pure robe of Christ. Just a sleeve from it will not do.