On most social issues, Catholics’ opinions today reflect the rest of the population. In an age when Catholicism struggles to sustain its distinct identity, we have largely failed to establish a distinctive social platform among our people. I suspect that on many issues vital to America’s social and moral well-being, the problem is not that Catholics have rejected Catholic Social Teaching (CST). The problem is, they never knew what CST was.
Did most Catholics know their bishops, their pope, and virtually all the world’s bishops opposed the invasion of Iraq – and did they know why?
Did most Catholics test George bush’s assertion that Iraq was a “just war” by using the Catholic criteria for a just war?
When Catholics hear attacks on illegal immigrants, do they know CST calls migration a human right?
When Catholics here that healthcare is “a privilege, not a right” – do they know CST says the opposite?
When a mine disaster pits management against its critics, do Catholics know that CST always favors people over profits?
When policy critics attack “redistributing wealth” as “socialism,” do Catholics know that, in the face of income inequalities, CST labels redistributing wealth “justice,” not “socialism”?
Do Catholics know CST defends the right to private property – but says owners must always use property to serve the common good?
When America cuts back its nuclear arsenal, do Catholics know CST unconditionally condemns the use of nuclear weapons?
When America renounces “first use” of its nukes, do Catholics know CST forbids even the threat of nuclear attack?
When Catholics hear about “family values” do they know CST regards the human race as a single family – so that racism, anti-Semitism, anti-Islamic and anti-immigrant attitudes all violate true family values?
Do Catholics know CST does not recognize “success” in war (whether in Iraq, Afghanistan, or anywhere else) as a moral justification?
Facing venomous debates about “Big” versus “Small” government, do Catholics know CST says size does not matter, but favors government that promotes the common good and a just social order?
I’m afraid that there is a yawning chasm between the vision of CST and the world view of many Catholics. Too many of them get their social values from secular society – from party politics, or media “pundits,” possibly from friends and family. If I’m right, on most social issues, millions of Catholics do not know their own faith.
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