Preaching Social Justice is Un-Biblical…
Comment:
The constant preaching about so-called social justice in parishes is one of the key reasons why thinking Catholics become more open to recognising the crisis in the Church. Eventually, it dawns on them that they just can’t be responsible for every perceived injustice under the sun.
The Scottish Government electoral registration forms are dropping on doormats this week. Mine arrived today. Young people aged 14 may now register to vote although they can’t actually vote until they are 16. Imagine 16 year olds helping to decide who gets to run the country. Any Party which promises to reduce the price of designer trainers, will be home and dry. Foreign citizens living in Scotland can also now register to vote, and all of this with an eye to the 2021 Holyrood election – and all to distract voters from the SNP’s dismal record on governance: click here for more on that.
The illusion of “social justice” preached by priests and politicians does appeal to the inexperienced and uneducated young. They are brainwashed, in schools and churches, with the idea that the UK is full of social injustice. Long-term, of course, this can only be corrected by a restoration of sound teaching in seminaries and teacher training colleges but what can be done in the short-term … for those young people who are not reading this blog? 😀 And if you disagree with the distinction between social justice and justice, let us know. We’re all ears 😀
Comments (29)
On the question of voting – I never understood why there is a minimum age for voting. The argument that younger people are mentally incapable of making such a decision, or are not really part of society because they are under the jurisdiction of their parents, or they are ignorant of the real world, are all essentially the same arguments used in times past to deny women the vote. Some younger people probably are incapable of exercising good judgement on account of their youth, but there are many older people just as incapable of exercising good judgement on account of their senility, but we have no maximum age for voting. It seems preposterous to me that a person can join the army at sixteen, but can’t vote for the party which decides where the army will be sent. In any person who can register to vote independently and can cast a ballot independently should be allowed to do so.
On the issue of foreigners as far as I am aware non-UK nationals have always been allowed to vote in local and regional elections (in law the Holyrood elections fall into the regional category) as councils and the Scots parliament deal with local matters and have no say on relationships with other states. Therefore residency, not citizenship, is the criterion for eligibility. Only UK, Irish and Commonwealth citizens may vote in Westminster elections.
Chris,
It is self-evident that the SNP wants kids to vote because they are easily manipulated – especially easy to manipulate into “seeing” a cause – specifically national identity. Watch a group of youngsters singing the horrendous “Flower of Scotland” and you will see what I mean. If the SNP thought for a second that young people were anti-independence, they wouldn’t get near a polling booth. The “we can’t let the English rule us” is an easy message. Nothing unites like a common enemy.
Having said that, none of the young people in my family will vote SNP – but they were home-schooled. The schools and churches are left-wing and preach from the same perspective – that we need to get rid of English rule and crown Queen Nicola. Goodness, the Scottish Government had to pull a video showing a bunch of small children praising auntie Nicola for keeping us all safe during the pandemic. Amazingly, there were so many complaints it had to be removed. There’s hope for us yet. Indeed, maybe that’s why the voting pool is being extended…
As for foreign citizens – if what you say is true, how come there is a separate leaflet arriving with the electoral registration form which reads:
“Welcome to your vote – don’t lose it!
Are you a foreign citizen living in Scotland?
The law in Scotland has changed you can now register to vote
To find out more, or to register to vote, go to http://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
Remember: as a foreign citizen aged 16 or over, by registering to vote you can now take part in Scottish elections. End of Text of Leaflet.
Note: it’s a strange argument that sees no value in life experience. There are certainly some young 16 year olds who, with good guidance from adults, parents etc would certainly be able to vote using good judgment, but not the majority whose only life experience has been listening to left-wing social justice propaganda in schools and churches. Being able to choose a career – whether in the army or anywhere else – at 16 does not mean a young person has good judgment.
I am not convinced young people are more easily manipulated than older people. Pensioners are arguably the most easily bribable citizens of all because the majority of them rely directly upon the state for their income, housing, and healthcare. In addition the over 65s are more numerous than the under 18s by at least several millions in the UK, and so constitute a constituency far more worthwhile bribing from a politician’s perspective.
I agree that independence support is correlated with age – in 2014 the independence referendum had a Yes majority in every age group under 65. Pensioners saved the Union (for now). So I suppose you can see why the SNP might be in favour of votes for 16 year olds. However the vote in the Scots parliament which lowered the voting age was passed unanimously by MSPs from all parties (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-33173488) and allowing 16 year olds to vote in the independence referendum was agreed by David Cameron in the Edinburgh Agreement he made with Alex Salmond. So to characterize it all as a nationalist plot is to overstate the case quite considerably.
I don’t dispute that all politicians are in on the act of getting younger voters onto the roll, but if you think the motivation is pure, then all I can say is you are a very charitable person.
The SNP government is a disaster. I can say that because I’m one of those who spoils my votes – I can’t vote for any of the parties these days because they are all supportive of immoral legislation that as a Catholic I cannot possibly support. The new Scottish Hate bill is a case in point, and the wonderful Christian Institute is asking for prayers for that because it is so bad it could very badly affect churches, preaching, the bible etc.
I disagree about the elderly being “bribable” – that is very unjust. Those on state support are not necessarily the most politically active. I know pensioners who are just trusting of whoever is in power. I remember my own parents praising the Conservative government for their pension at the time, saying they had never been so well off, LOL! Given that our family, like most west coasters, had been voting Labour since Adam was a toddler, this was some conversion!
As editor has said, life experience has to count for something. Would you be happy, for instance, if a 16-18 year old was elected First Minister? Mind you, that just might be an improvement, LOL!
I’m glad to see the idea of “social justice” challenged. It’s irritated me for many years, listening to priests talking about it. The video speaker made a lot of sense to me. “Justice” doesn’t need any adjective and the adjectives which are given to it, are always divisive.
Chris
Why, then, not allow kids of 16 to buy alchohol and cigarettes? Surely if they are considered old enough to exercise sound judgement in elections then that assessment should be across the board in every other aspect of life?
The reason why the latter freedoms are not extended to 16-year olds is precisely because every adult knows that at age 16 there is insufficient life experience and wisdom to prevent addiction and corruption, hence the old and true adage “you cannot put an old head on young shoulders”.
The popes in their various encyclicals against Communism referred to these revolutionaries as masters in recruiting “incautious youth”, which is more driven by passion than by prudence. I think it fair to state that the popes were much wiser in such matters than you and I.
Also, comparing the denial of voting rights to children (for they are children at 16), with the denial of voting rights to adult women in past times is clearly a red herring and errant nonsense.
It is a classic tactic of dictatorships to seek to control the minds and direct the passions of the young for their own evil ends. This present SNP government is doing exactly that with the added benefit of allowing recent immigrants to vote, being assured of their support to further destroy all national borders and cultures in the quest of a gloablist and Communist New World Order.
That’s an excellent point about 16 year olds not being allowed to buy alcohol and cigarettes. I think that’s the same with knives, as well.
It’s an obvious ploy to get young people to vote nationalist – and too many of them are too easily fooled, so I think it’s a suspicious move on the part of the SNP led Scottish government.
I don’t think it means anything than other MSPs vote in favour – they’re always horse-trading in politics.
I don’t really see any good reason why 16 year olds should face any additional prohibitions above those of the remainder of the population in the purchase of alcohol and tobacco either. In fact, prior to 2007 the legal age for tobacco purchases was 16.
You say the purpose of such prohibitions is because 16 year olds are too young to make good decisions. The point I’m making, and which you appear to have missed, is that this number is entirely arbitrary, and therefore unjust. Some 16 year olds will probably be of very unsound judgement, but some will probably be very intelligent indeed. And in fact you could say the same about people of any age. Neither intelligence nor experience are criteria for voting eligibility. If they were then we would have intelligence tests to see who was eligible to vote. If your intention is to stop stupid people voting, this would be much fairer than making a wholesale judgement based on a person’s age.
The idea that at age 15 years and 364 days someone is incapable of voting, but that 24 hours later they are capable, is as irrational as saying that an unborn child aged 23 weeks and 6 days should have no legal protection from termination, but one aged 24 weeks should. A person is given the ability to vote in elections not because they have acquired experience, but because they are a resident or a citizen, neither of which is dependent on age.
You say comparing the denial of voting rights to women to that of young people is “a red herring and errant nonsense”. However in the early 20th century the main arguments against giving the vote to women were that they had too little experience of the real world, and were too stupid. These are precisely the same two arguments you yourself used against votes for under 18s when you talked about “life experience and wisdom”, which precisely proves my point.
“ in 2014 the independence referendum had a Yes majority in every age group under 65.“
I’m afraid that’s [not true]. The ‘Yes’ vote lost in all but 4 Scottish constituencies.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-34283948
Editor: nasty personal remark removed. If you can’t discuss politely, go somewhere else. And do not accuse anyone of lying. They may have made a mistake, been misinformed, whatever, but you must not uncharitably jump to the conclusion that wrong data is a result of lying. Gerragrip.
Like all elections, the independence referendum was a secret ballot, so we only have polling evidence for the vote split. Lord Ashcroft’s exit poll on the day of the referendum, (see here: http://lordashcroftpolls.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Lord-Ashcroft-Polls-Referendum-day-poll-summary-1409191.pdf) showed “Yes” won in every age group under 55. (I said 65, so I accept my recall wasn’t completely accurate.) Constituency results are not relevant as 16 and 17 year olds were entitled to vote in all constituencies, albeit their numbers would have varied a bit from place to place.
Chris McLauchlin
Fantastic! Proof positive that wisdom does indeed imporve with age. This is yet more evidence supporting a common sense excluson of all children under 18 years from voting in important matters of State.
The difference between the Church’s traditional teaching on Social Justice and today’s culturally Marxist Social Justice is that the former proceeds from God while the latter emanates from atheistic naturalism and the anti-virtues of Communism and Freemasonry. Hence whilst appearing to champion human misery and suffering, the Communist/Masonic form of Social Justice, being morally and spiritually bankrupt, always ends in societal violence, disorder and destruction.
There is no question that today’s world is largely ruled by the latter form of government, which explains the global unhappiness, the immorality, the violence, the corruption and the cultural death of so many once-Christian nations, the death knell having been sounded with the sexual revolution of the 1960s.
That the kingdom of Satan has thus spread from a few Communist nations pre-1960 to encompass the entire planet in just 60 years is thanks in no small part to Vatican II’s capitulation to the world and the subsequent apostasy of so many high prelates in the Church, men of God turned men of mammon and compromise.
Imagine these men as knights of a good king committed to war against an evil pretender who seeks to usurp his kingdom. These knights, having become battle weary, decide to seek terms with the rival aggressor to the throne, who in return offers honorary recognition of their social status provided they recognise his superior authority and promise not to obstruct his reign. They agree to the terms and join forces with the evil king, thus forcing their good king into silent exile.
Hence the reason why Churchmen, from the Pope down, have stopped preaching the Catholic religion as the only means of eternal salvation, promoting instead the evil king’s false equality of religions through ecumenism and inter-religious initiatives. It is the reason also that they no longer challenge State-legislated immorality destructive of the Christian family, why they happily administer holy communion to publicly apostate Catholic politicians, why they no longer preach on mortal sin and the four last things (death, judgement, heaven and hell), why they do not speak of the Kingship of Christ and what that means for societies and nations, etc.
It is because they are utterly compromised by their deal with the devil not to obstruct in any meaningful public way his reign. Hence the universal lockdown of churches, in many cases before the secular authorities even legislatively demanded the outrage, thereby confirming their commitment to the inferior State authority in its usurpation of the superior authority of the good king, now exiled, and His Kingdom, now subjugated.
Yes, today’s hierarchy is completely void of the supernatural faith and zeal of the Church, of the saints and martyrs of 2000 years, existing now merely as religiously-robed representatives of global Socialism preaching its earthly doctrines on climate change and immigration, and utterly imbued with the Masonic principles of liberty, equality and fraternity.
The price of their betrayal is has been everywhere visible since the 1970s in the closure of seminaries and religious houses, the loss of vocations, the laicising of consecrated souls in their thousands and the apostasy of millions of Catholics, scandalised by the hypocrisy of a hierarchy increasingly overseeing what the late Professor William Marra described as “churches empty of God”.
How patently obvious is that reality now in the Covid-19 rules introduced into the very House of God, once a House of supernatural faith now presented as a House of human fear.
I could say a lot more on this subject, but I think the clearest explanation of what is presently taking place in the Church and the world is to be found in the Encyclical of Pope Pius XI on the institution of the universal Feast of Christ the King. The wisdom and foresight of the pre-Vatican II Popes never ceases to amaze me, so I include a link to the full encyclical together with the following excerpts to whet the appetite. This encyclical explains so much, so clearly.
“If We ordain that the whole Catholic world shall revere Christ as King, We shall minister to the need of the present day, and at the same time provide an excellent remedy for the plague which now infects society. We refer to the plague of anti-clericalism, its errors and impious activities. This evil spirit, as you are well aware, Venerable Brethren, has not come into being in one day; it has long lurked beneath the surface. The empire of Christ over all nations was rejected. The right which the Church has from Christ himself, to teach mankind, to make laws, to govern peoples in all that pertains to their eternal salvation, that right was denied. Then gradually the religion of Christ came to be likened to false religions and to be placed ignominiously on the same level with them. It was then put under the power of the state and tolerated more or less at the whim of princes and rulers. Some men went even further, and wished to set up in the place of God’s religion a natural religion consisting in some instinctive affection of the heart. There were even some nations who thought they could dispense with God, and that their religion should consist in impiety and the neglect of God. The rebellion of individuals and states against the authority of Christ has produced deplorable consequences. We lamented these in the Encyclical Ubi arcano; we lament them today: the seeds of discord sown far and wide; those bitter enmities and rivalries between nations, which still hinder so much the cause of peace; that insatiable greed which is so often hidden under a pretense of public spirit and patriotism, and gives rise to so many private quarrels; a blind and immoderate selfishness, making men seek nothing but their own comfort and advantage, and measure everything by these; no peace in the home, because men have forgotten or neglect their duty; the unity and stability of the family undermined; society in a word, shaken to its foundations and on the way to ruin. We firmly hope, however, that the feast of the Kingship of Christ, which in future will be yearly observed, may hasten the return of society to our loving Savior. It would be the duty of Catholics to do all they can to bring about this happy result. Many of these, however, have neither the station in society nor the authority which should belong to those who bear the torch of truth. This state of things may perhaps be attributed to a certain slowness and timidity in good people, who are reluctant to engage in conflict or oppose but a weak resistance; thus the enemies of the Church become bolder in their attacks.
When we pay honor to the princely dignity of Christ, men will doubtless be reminded that the Church, founded by Christ as a perfect society, has a natural and inalienable right to perfect freedom and immunity from the power of the state; and that in fulfilling the task committed to her by God of teaching, ruling, and guiding to eternal bliss those who belong to the kingdom of Christ, she cannot be subject to any external power. The State is bound to extend similar freedom to the orders and communities of religious of either sex, who give most valuable help to the Bishops of the Church by laboring for the extension and the establishment of the kingdom of Christ. By their sacred vows they fight against the threefold concupiscence of the world; by making profession of a more perfect life they render the holiness which her divine Founder willed should be a mark and characteristic of his Church more striking and more conspicuous in the eyes of all.”
http://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xi_enc_11121925_quas-primas.html
Would access to the celebration of Mass and the distribution of the sacraments, as well as access to a doctor, not come under the heading of social justice?
If so, why should a pandemic make it null and void?
Frankier
Very good point! It seems social justice is what the ruling elite say it is. They will not escape the divine justice, though!
Athanasius,
As ever, your posts are great.
I just wonder about one thing – and I could be wrong, I’m no expert – but I always think of the Church’s “Social Teaching”, not “Social Justice” so I was a bit surprised to see you using the term.
I’m really interested to know if the Church encyclicals speak of “social justice” because that would undermine the speaker in the Prager U video, IMHO.
Josephine,
I’ll jump in here to simply say one thing – I can’t recall if the term “social justice” was ever used in the papal encyclicals – I doubt it, because the key to understanding those encyclicals is that the cornerstone of Catholic Social Teaching is that Christ must be at the head of every nation under Heaven.
That’s why we cannot support evil legislation which attacks the basic moral law and it’s why we do our best to fight injustice. But justice has to be ordered to the Divine Will – otherwise we’re in “social worker territory” which is entirely different.
Not sure if this is clear but I’m sure Athanasius will reply in due course and sort us both out! I’m still catching up with the day just gone 😀
Editor
You’ve given Josephine the correct distinction between Social Teaching and Social Justice, so I’m content to thank both of you for that very important clarification.
Athanasius,
I’m ashamed to say I’ve not read your comments properly – been one of those days (again!) – I will catch up with the thread tomorrow. In the meantime, I have no doubt that the sense of what you write is no different from what I’ve clarified. Still, it’s always good to know that my genius is appreciated. Can’t say I’m not pleased about that 😀
https://cdn.quotesgram.com/img/50/77/1795746693-humornegro_quotes_brain_funny_genius_graphicdesign-19e45b44e6020bd2eca8b5bdeb2ccf40_h.jpg
Sounds like my brain transplant. The donor was Abbey someone, Abbey Normal, if I recall correctly.
Josephine
You have an eye for spotting important errors. You’re right, it is the Church’s “Social Teaching”, not the Communist “Social Justice”. There’s a marked difference between the two so thanks for that critical correction.
I think “social justice” is the classic sugar-coated poison that attracts idealistic people of all ages, professions and vocations. I’d bet not one in 100 know what it really means or signifies (like the term “sustainable”), and I include the Catholic clergy among that ignorant group. But its meaning doesn’t really matter to those looking for a cause, especially a messianic cause. It’s a slogan that sounds compassionate and makes those who mouth it sound compassionate and enlightened. In other words, it exists largely to feed pride, which in itself is proof that it’s Satan fomenting evil, as usual, under the guise of good.
Interesting that as the Church surrendered her messianic mission and spirit over the past 60 years, this hollow and deceptive messianic slogan has arisen to fill the void. Its counterpart in the Church used to be liberation theology, but that label is apparently now too complex and intellectual for the sound-byte mentality, so the term social justice has replaced it and overtaken the Church as well as the world.
It’s also a slogan that readily gives birth to related slogans that can be chanted at riots and protests, posted on Twitter and Facebook, etc. Social justice goes hand-in-hand with “virtue signaling,” which, again, gives the prideful the opportunity to exhibit their enlightenment, without actually have to do anything virtuous. Indeed, social justice almost always, except among those who never get past chasing rainbows at their keyboards, results in destructive, violent behavior.
Social justice is also an application of collectivism, or the leveling-out of society to achieve a mythical “equality.” It is therefore anti-Church, anti-Creation, anti-society, and anti-family, all of which are hierarchical. Ultimately, since I’m still in the middle of Fr. Miceli’s book, it is the spirit of the Antichrist.
RCAVictor
Great post, very concise and so true. Social Justice is the cultural revolution by any other name.
Here’s a perfect example of social justice warriors eating their own:
https://thefederalist.com/2020/08/19/portland-social-justice-warriors-set-fire-to-site-of-states-first-same-sex-marriage/
RCA Victor,
Irony of ironies.
Incidentally, the relative I mention on the other thread (about masks) is also convinced that America is “institutionally racist”.
I find it so difficult to believe that so many people are so thick.
One ray of light, though; this morning I had a call from our former media officer, now reduced to the status of “mere” reader, due to age and ill health (he’s in his 80s and in hospital nearly as often as the doctors and nurses) so this was supposed to be a quick “touching base” chat. However, we’re both talkers so the chat extended to something more akin to a full blown conference speech & Q & A session, with one particularly interesting segment…
Since he has never used the internet, and since he mentioned Donald Trump, I was interested to hear him remark that if Trump is not re-elected, there’s no hope for the world at all. Surprised, I asked him how he’d reached that conclusion and he replied that, well, I surely know by now that he’s a newshound – doesn’t miss a news broadcast, watches all the channels etc. I said that’s why I’m surprised – the media is totally opposed to Trump, so – without the input of other news outlets available via the internet – how did he become a Trump fan?
Reply – and this is more or less verbatim: “Well, that’s just it. I listen to what the media says about someone and then I can work out the truth from there. In this case, the polar opposite”! The media clearly hates him – he must be a good man.
That is one savvy 80-something year old.
Editor,
As my stepfather used to say, my Church seals my lips – regarding your [fill in the blank] relative….
As for your former media officer, he needs more zeroes in his paycheck! Brilliant!
My above comments about Donald Trump reminds me that we will, of course, publish a thread on the USA election – not sure when would be the best time, though – any time soon or a bit closer to November. All opinions welcome.
Editor,
I think a thread on how the Democrats plan to disrupt or invalidate the election – which they have no prayer of winning by honest means – should be the focus, and maybe you could invite people at the White House, the GOP and the Trump campaign to observe or contribute to the discussion.
If you agree on that focus, then I would recommend posting it by October 1.
RCA Victor,
Consider it done!
Editor,
My wish is your command! Er, uh….
RCA Victor,
Don’t speak too soon – check your emails first 😀
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