“The pope’s modest vision of politics clearly goes against utopian views as we commonly understand the term...the expectation of a state of salvation within history that in itself transcends the possibilities of political action but is established by political means…The Christian tradition provides other views of utopia that do not partake of such irrationalism…the monastic ideal which was to live the life of paradise now…Mendicant religious orders that went into the world and later third orders were again attempts to transform the world by establishing a utopian ideal within it. So for all of its rejection of false, political utopias, the Church provides, as it were, other utopias which edify the world and push it to a higher, more spiritual standard.”
Thomas Rourke in “Fundamental Politics,” Communio, Fall 2008.
Pope Benedict gives us a sophisticated, nuanced critique of the two utopian ideologies that compete in our current contest: Obama-ism and Reagan-ism. The first places its hope in the preternatural ability of the expanded, progressive state to revive the economy, provide universal healthcare, quality education, alternate energies, international peace through diplomacy and a cleaned environment…all through tax increases on the very wealthy. This is utopian thinking in spades. Unfortunately, the alternate ideology is an exaltation of the impersonal “invisible hand” of global market capitalism which, allied with democratic politics, is construed as the privileged vehicle of redemption for the poor. The two visions share an illusional belief in the efficacy of market capitalism, the first as regulated by an expanded government, the second as freewheeling. Pope Benedict preaches neither of these market-gospels.
Current events surely confirm Benedict's skepticism. The long-running Madoff ponzi scheme and the AFG bonuses: could there be more blatant evidence of governmental incompetence and capitalistic greed? It is astonishing that people continue to place such trust in the bureaucratic state and the impersonal market!
Benedict’s modesty would shift us from the macro to the more micro level. Recalling his sainted namesake, he points to the monasteries and their role in the creation of medieval Europe as models for a Catholic politics of realism and humility. The Catholic vision here is that communities of every level, but especially the most foundational, the family, are empowered in the Eucharist to flesh out a civilization of love, respect, fraternity, and joy. So, we imagine, with Benedict, a culture rich with a web of interconnected families (extended and open), neighborhoods, parishes, study meetings, ecclesial movements, non-profits, fraternities and sororities, political action groups…all in their own way fleshing out the Triune life received in the sacramental Church.
This view suggests a relative shift of emphasis away from macro-politics towards energetic involvement on the more immediate, concrete level. It prescribes a degree of skepticism, but not complete cynicism, about grand schemes involving state action or market infallibility. The first priority today must be protection of the family, chastity and innocent, helpless life from destruction by the liberationist state, now allied with capital, media and elite culture...a triumphant state actively colonizing guiless Catholics. (Who is the commencement speaker at Notre Dame this year? The Divine Emperor Obama himself!) A Catholic third way will collaborate with the Republicans on this priority without pledging allegiance to the entire conservative ideology and remain open to cooperation with the Democrats on a wide range of issues beyond the moral and cultural.
So, let us “do the good that presents itself” in the immediate communities where we live; placing our trust in the Church rather than any political program; defending our most cherished values centered in the family and the very little ones who are most fragile and vulnerable; and doing all in the Eucharistic spirit of reception, gratitude, and confident assertiveness.
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Matt, something that I found interesting: At the Clear Creek Monastery in Oklahoma, a new community, there are families buying up and building on all the surounding land. They want to be close to the monks. This is quintasential monastic life; the monastery as the center of life and they feed the community built around it.
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