Dineen gives a surprising twist to Fukuyama's famous 1992 declaration (at the fall of Soviet communism) of an "End of History": by that phrase the later meant the final, definitive triumph of liberal democracy; Dineen on the contrary announces the fall of liberalism as the last of the great 20th century ideologies (along with Fascism and Communism). Dineen advocates a retreat to local communities and organizations and specifically advises against the development of a new, alternate ideology. There is a problem with this advice: it is impossible for one to think and act politically, socially or culturally without some "ideology" (however vague or implicit) understood as a system of values and beliefs that guide society. Who of us is not in favor of democracy, economic liberty and free markets, a protective and regulative state, freedoms of speech, religion and so forth? Who of us is not opposed to slavery, racism, child labor, a state-free society or a totalitarian state? Even anarchists on the left (Dorothy Day) and right (Steve Bannon) have, at least implicitly, a vision of the good society, even as they renounce the status quo. In contrast to them, I consider myself a pragmatist, a gradualist, a moderate. I agree with Dineen's analysis of the internal self-destructiveness of liberalism understood as "expressive individualism" and I am entirely unsatisfied with the three current prevailing ideologies (Trump, Clinton/Obama, Paul Ryan). However, I do not see the current order of large government and global markets as unequivocally bad, as inevitably doomed, as incapable of redemption. Like almost all human systems, our current order has lots of good things and lots of bad things. We do well to start by accepting the current order, in its inadequacy and splendor, and envision the way to diminish the bad and enhance the good. With that in mind, I suggest the following guiding principles from accepted Catholic social teaching.
1. Protection of innocent, powerless life: from conception to natural birth. Period!
2. Solidarity with all...especially the poor, suffering, powerless and marginalized. All!
3. Subsidiarity: a preference for smaller, organic, immediate organizations and communities rather than the de-personalized mega-state or global market.
4. Reverence for the sacred, the holy, the transcendent as the source of a received (not fabricated) moral order in a non-denominational manner that protects freedom of religion.
5. Respect, protection and support for the natural family and time honored habits of gender ("man and woman He created them...") and sexuality (chastity, fidelity, masculine reverence for the feminine, maternity/paternity) as the bedrocks of society.
Beyond these five foundational, non-negotiable principles, there is a range of values, beliefs and tensions that can be expressed in diverse manners: a patriotism that is internationalist in a prudent, positive way; a safety net for the poor that is sober yet generous; compromise between the rights of gun-owners and public safety; an immigration policy that is welcoming but realistic; a tax policy that considers the vitality of business, the needs of the government, and the future of our children. These matters are ambiguous, complicated, the stuff of prudential judgment and inevitably productive of disagreement and argument. An informed Catholic conscience will not absolutize or consecrate a specific policy; will not demonize those who disagree; will maintain a serenity, lightness, magnanimity and liberty in deliberation and discourse; and will therefore avoid "ideology" in the pejorative sense. It is particularly important that our clergy and hierarchy not use their ordination and status to advance some particular position and thus succumb to an unacknowledged clericalism that disrespects the freedom and responsibility of the laity even as it profanes the holy office. However the five bedrock principles of our faith cannot be compromised; they are in "constant war" with an Imperial Individualistic Liberalism; they must be preached by our priests and practiced by our people with ferocity and zeal: solidarity and subsidiarity; protection of the innocent, of the Sacred, of religious liberty, of the family, of masculinity/femininity and of sexuality.
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