Claiming the Center, Once More

The Conceit of Primacy by Elizabeth Scalia

Instead of being at the center with respect to "movement" Catholicism, maybe we should get away from movement Catholicism and back to living in community with other Catholics. Those who are wrong on certain issues can be corrected fraternally or by the bishops. If there is a disagreement on prudential matters (and not on principles of justice as some would like to claim), then it would be better if everyone return to the student's desk and learn more about moral and political philosophy (&theology), and not just Catholic Social Teaching, which is apparently inadequate given that its meaning is in dispute and it has been appropriated by both "sides" of the political divide. A job in mass media requires national movements though, or a national audience to motivate.

Participating in and advocating movement Catholicism (or conservatism) generally opposes the practice of the order of charity and a proper acknowledgement of local communities and their identity. Some seem to think that if a local community is wrong-headed (or even wrong-hearted) in political matters that it is permissible for the Federal Government to step in and legislate that away. This they argue in the name of solidarity and subsidiarity. Politics is about numbers, and if you don't have the numbers on the ground, why are you appealing to a strong-man to come in and force your way? Worse, you want to make that strong-man even stronger, so that he can do his job better, but you have no idea what the strong-man wants. What if he uses that power against you? It would seem that many Catholics are naive about earthly power and those who hold it. If you want political power you must have sufficient numbers to make it possible. There can be no proper ordering without the force to back it up, and that force can be validated through the support of numbers.

Less professional blogging, more interaction with real people.

Why Are Americans So Easy to Manipulate?

At Patheos:
Hate-filled and hate-voting? Stop Slogan-Voting. Stop Hate-Voting. Stop Being Manipulated. Part 8. Hate-Voting = Using the Devil’s Weapons Instead of the Armor of God.

By accusing someone of hate-voting, isn't one participating in some sort of hate or injustice or accusation of moral failure or sin? Just asking.