Rachel Evans
Progressive Catholicism is a current of thought within the Catholic Church that promotes the separation of church and state, freedom of religion, expanded suffrage, and broad-based education. Liberal Catholicism, a similar concept, arose in the 19th century and was influenced by classical liberalism. It advocated for universal freedom of conscience, freedom of education, freedom of assembly, and freedom of the press. While some argue that there cannot be two ideological paths in Catholicism, progressive Catholics have applied the progressive mindset to the Church, embracing social justice and systemic change. Progressive Catholics support policies that address the needs of the marginalized and the poorest, protect the Earth, and foster the common good.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Separation of church and state | Freedom of religion |
| Expanded suffrage | Freedom of education |
| Broad-based education | Freedom of association |
| Supporting policies that embrace the needs of the poorest | Protecting the Earth |
| Supporting political positions that foster the common good | Addressing the needs of the many over the wants of the few |
| Supporting married clergy | Supporting abortion rights |
| Rejecting the idea that there are two genuine ideological paths in Catholicism | Accepting everything presented as Truth |
| Placing the defence of the dignity of the human person as the first consideration | Opting for the lesser evil |
| Secularization of the belief in a coming heavenly age of perfection |
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What You'll Learn
Embrace freedom of religion, association, education, and the press
Liberal Catholicism, a current of thought within the Catholic Church, promotes several freedoms that are also central to progressive ideologies: freedom of religion, freedom of association, freedom of education, and freedom of the press. These freedoms were historically championed by liberal Catholics in the 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in France and Belgium.
Freedom of Religion
Freedom of religion is a cornerstone of Liberal Catholicism. This entails advocating for the separation of church and state, ensuring that religious beliefs are not imposed by political institutions and that individuals are free to practice their faith without interference from the state. It also means recognizing the religious liberty of those with different beliefs or no religious affiliation.
Freedom of Association
Liberal Catholics believe in the right to assemble and freedom of association. This freedom allows individuals to gather, form organizations, and pursue shared interests and goals without undue restriction from the state. It fosters a society where diverse groups can exist and function independently, contributing to a rich tapestry of ideas and communities.
Freedom of Education
The promotion of freedom of education is central to Liberal Catholicism. This encompasses the belief that individuals should have the right to choose the type of education they or their children receive. It also emphasizes the importance of broad-based education, encouraging critical thinking, religious tolerance, and the exploration of diverse ideas and perspectives.
Freedom of the Press
Liberal Catholics advocate for freedom of the press, which is essential for a well-informed and engaged society. This freedom allows for the open exchange of ideas, fosters debate, and enables individuals to access information beyond what is provided by religious or state authorities. A free press plays a crucial role in holding institutions, including religious organizations, accountable for their actions.
These freedoms, as envisioned by progressive Catholics, empower individuals to make their own choices regarding faith, association, education, and access to information. They reflect a commitment to individual liberties and a belief in the separation of church and state, ensuring that religious institutions do not exert undue influence over political and societal matters.
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Support social justice and systemic change
The Catholic Church has been dominated by the question of tradition and progressivism, and how these two forces should coexist. Progressive Catholics are encouraged to support social justice and systemic change, which has been central to the embodiment of religious life over the past six decades. Pope Francis challenges Catholics to be multi-issue advocates, supporting political positions that foster the common good and address the needs of the many. Progressive Catholics should support policies that embrace the needs of the poorest in the world and protect the Earth.
The progressive mindset has influenced many Catholics, and this has been reflected in the Church's history. The 19th century saw the rise of "liberal Christianity," which maintained certain Christian moral ideals while setting aside the perennial truths of the faith as old and outmoded. This was a halfway house between Christianity and progressive unbelief. This liberal Catholicism promoted the separation of church and state, freedom of religion, expanded suffrage, and broad-based education.
In the progressive gospel, the belief in a heavenly age of perfection has been secularized and brought into historical time. The age of oppression is believed to be over, and the age of freedom is emerging, with ongoing revolutions bringing about a new age of humanity. Progressive Catholics are often characterized by a desire to find a "silver bullet" to complex problems, and this can be seen in the Church's history, such as with the liturgy.
However, it is important to note that the terms "progressive" and "conservative" are political labels that do not fit neatly into the Catholic faith, which is above them. The Church is not a politically pluralistic society with different sets of beliefs to choose from. While individual political views may differ, Catholics are called to live integrated Catholic lives, bringing their faith and conscience into their political decisions. This involves considering a Catholic hierarchy of values, with the defense of human dignity as the first consideration.
Progressive Catholics should, therefore, focus on supporting policies and public positions that address social justice and systemic change, promoting the common good, and prioritizing the needs of the marginalized and the poorest in the world. This may involve advocating for specific issues such as abortion rights, women's issues, economic justice, peace, and the environment, while also being prepared to engage in conversations about these beliefs and the teachings of the Church.
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Defend human dignity and the common good
The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of Catholic social teaching. The Church teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met.
The Church identifies several threats to human dignity and life, including abortion, euthanasia, cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and the use of the death penalty. It also condemns the intentional targeting of civilians in war or terrorist attacks and calls for nations to protect the right to life by preventing and resolving conflicts through peaceful means.
In addition to these life issues, the Church emphasizes the importance of economic justice and the dignity of work. Basic workers' rights, such as the right to productive work, decent and fair wages, the organization and joining of unions, private property, and economic initiative, must be respected to protect the dignity of work. The Church also recognizes the existence of sinful inequalities that affect human dignity, including extreme economic and social disparities, subhuman living conditions, arbitrary imprisonment, deportation, slavery, prostitution, and disgraceful working conditions.
Pope Francis has challenged Catholics to expand their political focus beyond issues of sexuality and to become multi-issue advocates, supporting political positions that foster the common good and address the needs of the many over the wants of the few. This includes supporting policies that embrace the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable in society, as well as protecting the environment and addressing climate change.
Catholics can defend human dignity and the common good by advocating for social justice, economic equity, and the protection of human life in all its stages, while also caring for our common home, the Earth.
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Reflect Catholic values in political decisions
Catholicism is a relationship with a person and accepting everything this person has presented as Truth. Our allegiance to Christ and the Catholic faith should come before our allegiance elsewhere. However, this does not mean that our faith and conscience should not be reflected in our political decisions.
The Catholic Church is above political ideologies. There is only one Catholic faith, and we must reject the notion that there are two ideological paths in Catholicism. The terms "progressive" and "conservative" are political labels that do not apply to the Catholic faith. The Church is not a politically pluralistic society, and there is only one set of beliefs to adhere to while remaining Catholic.
However, this does not mean that our political decisions cannot reflect Catholic values. In fact, Catholics are encouraged to bring their faith and conscience into their political choices. While no political party or candidate may perfectly represent the values of the Gospel, we must make decisions that uphold the Catholic hierarchy of values, always placing the defence of human dignity as the first consideration.
This means supporting political positions that foster the common good and address the needs of the many, especially the poorest and most marginalized. It involves protecting our Earth and supporting policies that align with the social justice and systemic change mandates of the Gospel and the Second Vatican Council.
Catholics are challenged to be multi-issue advocates, moving beyond a singular focus on issues of sexuality to embrace a broader range of concerns that impact people's lives. This includes reflecting on the Church's legacy and tradition while also recognizing that we are in a new age, where ongoing revolution brings about progress and a more humane world. It is also important to be aware of the tendency of progressive ideologies to offer simplistic solutions to complex problems, such as downplaying Catholic social teaching to align with political and economic views.
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Interpret the Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council, also known as Vatican II, was the twenty-first ecumenical council of the Catholic Church. It was convened by Saint John XXIII and lasted for four sessions from 1962 to 1965. The council produced sixteen documents, including four constitutions, nine decrees, and three declarations, which aimed to direct the life of the Church in the twentieth century and beyond.
The council's purpose was to modernize the Church and bring it up to date with the changing conditions of the modern world, a concept known as "aggiornamento" in Italian. This included addressing political, social, economic, and technological changes that were taking place at the time. One of the key messages of the council was the importance of the "Paschal Mystery" as the centre of Christian life and the Christian year.
The Second Vatican Council brought about several changes to the Catholic Church. These included the widespread use of vernacular languages in the Mass instead of Latin, allowing communion under both kinds for the laity, revising Eucharistic prayers, and abbreviating the liturgical calendar. The council also encouraged the celebration of the Mass versus populum, with the officiant facing the congregation, as well as ad orientem, facing the "East" and the Crucifix. Additionally, there was a subtle disuse of ornate clerical regalia and modern aesthetic changes, including contemporary Catholic liturgical music and artwork.
The council also had a significant impact on the relationship between the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations. The decree Unitatis redintegratio, or "Restoration of Unity" in 1964, marked a shift from the Church's previous position of hostility or indifference towards the ecumenical movement. Instead, the decree stated that unity among all Christians was one of the principal concerns of the Second Vatican Council and that a concern for unity was an obligation for all Catholics.
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Frequently asked questions
Progressive Catholicism is a mindset that has been influenced by the progressive gospel, which states that we have left the age of oppression and are now in the age of freedom. Progressive Catholics apply this dogma to the Church.
Progressive Catholics believe in a simplistic solution to the complex problem of human evil. They believe that if certain things did not exist, everything would fall into place. For example, some progressive Catholics believe that the solution lies in the practices of the liturgy.
Conservative Catholicism is associated with the Republican Party in the United States. Republicans have attempted to bring white Catholics into their party by promising to aid Catholic schools and end abortion. Conservative Catholicism has also been associated with the sexual abuse crisis and the exodus of young people from the Church. Progressive Catholicism is associated with anticlericalism, which is common among political liberals and women due to the bishops' stance on women's issues.
Critics of progressive Catholicism argue that it is dangerously untrue to believe that there are different sets of beliefs to choose from while remaining Catholic. They argue that there is only one Catholic faith.
Being a progressive Catholic involves supporting policies that embrace the needs of the poorest people in the world and protecting the Earth. Progressive Catholics are also encouraged to expand the focus of their political positions beyond issues of sexuality and to support political positions that foster the common good.
