Posted on 12/02/2005 5:46:55 PM PST by annalex
Here is the link to Murray's doctrinal dissertation if you are interested
http://www.georgetown.edu/users/jlh3/Murray/1937.htm
I want to add another consideration, regarding the medieval social order. I understand that any generalization is subject to a rebuttals from the particular, and so is mine. But here it is, for what it is worth:
The feudal system was based on contractual arrangement between individuals in pursuit of security. In other words, if freeman X is concerned with his security he makes arrangements with Y on an individual basis. This is unlike the present day state which offers its protective service based on the territory. Here is the rub: the feudal system hinged on loyalty and therefore commodified honor. Which is very good because when a virtue is a commodity, you have people interested in acquiring the virtue. We have it in the commercial realm, but not in the political realm. For example, if I need a business partner or an accountant my central question to a candidate is "Do you have honor?" and of course, the candidate would point out his record to demonstrate honor. But since my voting does not confer a contractual obligation, honor is not a commodity among politicians. We can have honorable politicians and they had dishonorable noblemen, but the medieval system was biased toward honor in a way ours isn't.
It is true. My thesis is that the feudal system is the most organic to the Divine Law and therefore to the Catholic Church social system, while a democratic state can be compatible with Catholicism, and the American Republic in its ideal form is compatible. The latter, compatibility, is what various popes taught, and you quote some of them. But "compatible" only means that the Church can do her work in America and in the USSR or communist Poland, for example, she (or the sister Orthodox Church) could not. It does not mean that the real conditions -- as opposed to the ideal frozen in time form -- cannot deteriorate to the point when the compatibility vanishes. Or vice-versa, an atheist communist state may remove enough obstacles to the Church and become relatively compatible.
There are ominous signs that the real democratic system is turning from welcoming or neutral to hostile toward religion, both in Europe and in the United States. The legal notion that religion cannot exist in any public space has prevailed. Various freedom of conscience protections as regards abortion or homosexuality are rapidly disappearing, even as the innovations such as gay "marriage" and abortion pill make these protections even more necessary. The Catholic duty of a justice of the peace asked to certify a gay "marriage" is to refuse to do so and to refuse to resign over it; likewise with doctors, nurses and pharmacists who may be mandated to serve the abortion and contraception industry. Is there any doubt that the state will respond with hostility to conscientious objectors as soon as the transitional period of legal fog that we currently have over these issues clears? The compatibility will end when it happens.
Of course, establishing monarchy through, say, a constitutional amendment is a fruitless cause. It will only establish itself following a major crisis and collapse of authority. Or a new feudalism will emerge from the system of private enterprise after the state fails. Moreover, re-establishment of hereditary nobility should probably precede the establishment of monarchy. But I do not call for establishment of either. I urge the conservative wing of the Catholic Church in the West to understand that the modern democratic state is rapidly emerging as the enemy of the Church and to adjust its rhetoric accordingly.
You expressed views on monarchy or on the relationship between church and state recently, and I thought you might be curious about this.
Eh, about all I can say in favor of monarchy at the moment is that there are fewer potential targets for a justified tyrannicide movement. If a democracy goes bad, tyrannicide looks too much like genocide.
Thanks for the ping. I know many Orthodox, many of whom are American converts, who believe quite firmly that a God annointed monarchy is the appropriate order of society. Certainly there are substantial minorities in places like Greece, Bulgaria and Romania who hold this position. My own family in Greece does. I've met a few monarchs, one even a reigning one. The only one I met who I thought might well be the annoited of God for his people isn't even a Christian. The Christian ones, Orthodox and Roman Catholic, though arguably OK guys and a couple even actually or potentially good for their countries, didn't impress me as being or having the potential to be in fact Christian monarchs.
As for state churches, well I am convinced that they are bad for the state. Certainly that's true with the Church of Greece and Greece is a Republic! The opposite is more common and equally true in my opinion.
This does not go to the argument being made. Surely we don't say that the American system is good when Reagan is president but bad when Carter is, or even that Reagan was necessarily a better Christian than Carter; in some respects it seems that the opposite was true. Likewise, I don't know anyone who says that monarchs are better people than the rest of us. Well, in one aspect they are, in that they were brought up to govern, but this is again a systemic argument.
Put it this way. What is the simplest way to improve the government now? I answer that, as Aquinas would say. Tell every elected politician that the position he currently holds is his for life, unless he chooses to resign it. When he dies or resigns, the position goes to his firstborn, again for life, etc. The mere elimination of the need to sell government services to voters will do wonders to the quality of government we are getting.
I think monarchy has an advantage over democracy (aka mob rule) becauase like the priesthood (and even fatherhood), it is a microcosm of how God relates to manking. As a king (and as a father). God didn't legislate His laws through a popular vote.
Just a general note based off your post; I think there is no governmental system that is ideal. There are good democracies and bad democracies. Good monarchies and bad monarchies. However, I think democracy is inherently flawed and doomed to fail. Monarchy does have certain advantages.
In many ways, we no longer do have freedom, not in the sense meant here.
You sound like my Greek relatives!
"The mere elimination of the need to sell government services to voters will do wonders to the quality of government we are getting."
So far as I can see, corruption in monarchial style governments has been as bad, if not worse, than that seen in republics. As for pols selling out to the "interests" who pay the bills, well that's been going on since the Athenians came up with the idea of democracy. In a republic or a constitutional monarchy politicians are either the voice of their constituents or people elected to lead because of their personal qualities. For me, I'll go with Edmund Burke on that one, but the tenor of the times as we see in the actions of virtually all political parties in the West has clearly moved away from the Burkian ideal.
I will say that I do see a use for monarchs beyond being mere tourist attractions. In countries like Bulgaria, Romania, Cambodia and Laos (and Spain some years back), a sovereign can act as a uniting symbol of the nation and all the people as a country struggles to establish a free society. As for established stable countries, well I wouldn;t want to give up my rights in the hope that some sovereign and his barons could do a better job than I and my peers can do.
Sure it will be hard but the left accomplished it and we more virtuous Christians, Jews, and principled secularists can win the war but it first must be fought within our own minds.
If we let ourselves become convinced "it is over" in our minds, we have surrended to despair and defeat.
Mary appeared at Guadalupe,in the very center of the Americas, for a reason.
Despite those who hate us, we are destined for real greatness if each of us, individually, picks up the mantle and does our part.
P.S. I don't know what you meant by "It is true"
CTID. I love your posts. Usually they are smashing. However, to cure yourself of this Monarchial malady, please reread Kings 1-4 :)
*Yes. I can see the now Prince Charles leading Perfidious Albion into officially embracing Islam. I think King Dhimwit and Camilla in a Burqa (YES) will look fetching on the cover of Time as the couple of the year and the idea that St. Paul must be renamed Usama Bin Laden Mosque will be happily embraced by the Diversity Dons at Oxford
And that's more a form of slavery and oppression than chains.
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