Global Journal of Human-Social Science, A: Arts and Humanities, Volume 22 Issue 8

Moral theology Because of its emphasis on pluralism, diversity, and tolerance, it entrenches moral relativism and agnosticism which go against metaphysical realism and dogmatic theology. By relegating religion to the private sphere, liberalism paves the way to political totalitarianism because it voids politics from transcendent values, and by doing so it inverts the teleological cosmic order. It entrenches an inadequate vision of human freedom which emphasizes the value of individual autonomy over the Catholic values of love, solidarity, and ecclesiological community. III. P oints of C onvergence between CST & L iberalism Without denying valid points of divergence, CST and classical liberalism see human liberty as an inalienable human right, which ought to be protected by public authorities. The government is nota “provider” of liberty, but its custodian. Both traditions underline the importance of subsidiarity and decentralization to avoid political oppression (CSDC, 2004: 150-151; 185-186). Freedom is an essential element of the common good and a sine qua non condition of human integral fulfillment . 3 Regarding international relations, they converge on the importance of collaboration and the pursuit of peace, justice, liberty, and environmental stewardship. Both traditions emphasize economic, political, and social tools for building a prosperous and inclusive world order (CSDC 2004: 433, 434-435). Liberalism in international relations emphasizes the importance of international institutions, shared responsibility, universal legal frameworks, and pooled resources. According to that school of thought, systemic problems such as climate change, poverty, hunger and vaccinationcannot be addressed effectively on a national basis. They point out that it is a mistake to see nationsin isolation from each other. All nations and all people are part of the same Freedom is a fundamental principle of social life together with truth, justice, equality, and love (CSDC, 2004: 197). It plays a crucial role in the social life of each society since it is the source of religious, cultural, political, and economic self-expression and participation (CSDC, 2004: 199- 200). CST and classical liberalism agree on the importance of pluralism as a key element of political and social life, which includes the parents’ right to choose education for children (CSDC, 2004: 240-241); freedom of conscience; freedom of economic initiative (CSDC, 2004: 291); religious freedom (CSDC, 2004: 96-97), and freedom of speech (John XXII,1963). Both traditions agree also on “healthy secularity”, that is, establishing a lay, autonomous state which is intrinsically superior to any form of the confessional state (Anderson, 2021). 4 Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 19; 199-200; 1730-1748; 388-389 “human family” which shares dignity and destiny as “children of God” (CSDC, 2004: 429-431). The relationship between liberalism and Catholicism has been studied with particular attention in the English-speaking world, particularly in the United States and England. The political and economic culture of both countries has been influenced by Protestantism, Catholicism, and Enlightenment. These three traditions coalesce around the importance of ordered society, reasoned debate, virtuous leadership, civility, mutual respect, and collaboration (Weithman, 1997). 4 5 (Weithman, 1997). (Douglas, 1994). (Billingham, 2021). 6 https://www.acton.org/ 7 https://www.stpauls.co.uk/calendar/st-pauls-institute-the-protestant- work-ethic-and-the-future-of-work. 8 https://www.vatican.va/various/fondazione-centesimus-annus/index_ en.htm 9 https://instytuttertio.pl/ 10 https://eppc.org/ 11 https://www.kas.de/pl/web/polen This complimentary is testified by the works of numerous scholars (Michael Novak, Mary Ann Glendon, George Weigel, Daniel K. Finn, Richard Neuhaus), and by the academic activity of various think-tanks, research centers, and foundations that believe in the compatibility between a free society and virtuous behavior. It suffices to mention here the Acton Institute 6 , Saint Paul’s Institute 7 , Centesimus Annus Pro Pontefice Foundation 8 , Instytut Tertio Millenio 9 , Ethics, and Public Policy Center 10 , or Konrad Adenauer Stiftung 11 . Nevertheless, the relationship among different strains of liberalism and CST has grown ever more complex because of fragmentation of the liberal field as well as different social-political perspectives among conservative Catholic thinkers that include traditionalist conservatism, paleoconservatism, cultural or religious- based conservatism, neoconservatism, and libertarian conservatism. These conservative perspectives take different positions regarding the role of the state, the role of the natural law as the basis of the legal order, the right balance between equality and liberty, international relations, social welfare; energy and the environment; civil rights; education; health care; family; immigration; human life issues; defense, and disarmament among others (Krason, 2017). Volume XXII Issue VIII Version I 4 ( ) Global Journal of Human Social Science - Year 2022 © 2022 Global Journals A Catholic Liberalism: An Anti-Populist Proposal