Cultural Progressivism is not the progress dynamic inherent to science and technology, nor is it the Catholic-friendly political liberalism of the Democratic Party of the postwar era (1945-65). Rather, it is a coherent, powerful ideology...philosophical, theological, political...which took over the elite institutions of the West starting in 1965, as the Second Vatican II Council ended and the Sexual Revolution exploded across society.
The essentials of Cultural Progressivism:
1. -distrust of the past, of tradition, of authority, and of divine revelation as ignorant and unjust;
2. -fervent trust in science and technology; and in inexorable progress, the "arc of history" invincibly overcoming pathologies of the past;
3. - faith in the therapeutic as path to human flourishing;
4. - devaluation of incompetent human life (fetus, elderly and infirm) as disposable refuse;
5. - detachment of sex from procreation in artificial contraception, technologies of "reproduction" and the cult of sterile sex;
6. - deconstruction of femininity (as virginity/bridal-spousality/maternity) and masculinity (as virtuous virility/husbandly spousality/paternity) in favor of the neutered, sterile, isolated individual as unit of production and consumption;
7. - fundamental dynamic of society is the oppression of master/slave in male/female, rich/poor, white/non-white, heterosexual/homosexual, Israel/Palestinian, colonizer/colonized and more.
8. - sovereignty of isolated Self over claims of family, community, faith or country.
9. - absolute secularity; denial of reality of the eternal, transcendent or supernatural; banishment of religion from the public to the private.
10. - rejection of realist epistemology and ontology of being for a constructivist relativism.
This is clearly the contradiction of Catholicism in many dimensions.
Catholic Progressivism is the futile attempt to marry Catholic faith with Cultural Progressivism. The substantive here is "Progressivism" which is flavored with elements of the Church compatible with it. This will be distinguished from Progressive Catholic which retains Catholic integrity along with more liberal or leftwing prudential judgments.
Since the Council, our Church has been a Culture War between Progressivism and enduring-organically-vital Catholicism. Below is a test to position yourself on the Catholic/Progressive spectrum.
Catholic/Progressive Spectrum
Answer Yes or No to each question. Each is a progressive belief that contradicts Catholic faith. At the end give yourself -1 for each No and +1 for each Yes. If undecided or ambivalent, score a 0.
1. A woman can be a Catholic priest. Yes No
2. Artificial contraception within a generous marriage is a good moral option. Yes No
3. War is no longer a moral option. Yes No
4. Capital punishment is inherently and always wrong. Yes No
5. Church denial of Eucharist to the divorced/remarried/not-annulled is uncharitable. Yes No
6. In Vitro Fertilization and related technologies are valid moral options for the infertile. Yes No
7. Homosexual acts are not in themselves immoral so that such unions can be blessed. Yes No
8. Self-identification in opposition to birthed, biological gender is a good moral option. Yes No
9. Sacramental practice (Sunday mass, regular confession) is not essential or necessary for a Catholic living a good life. Yes No
10. Living and sleeping together outside of marriage is morally ok if there is mutual love. Yes No
11. Legalized abortion is a good way to protect women. Yes No
12. Trans-women have a right to compete in female sports. Yes No
13. Assisted suicide and euthanasia are compassionate options. Yes No
14. Religious refusal to place children for adoption with homosexual couples or to participate in homosexual marriages is bigoted and should be illegal. Yes No
15. Sex work (prostitution) should be legal and free of shame and guilt. Yes No
16. Moderate use of porn and masturbation can be wholesome expressions of sexuality. Yes No
17. Catholic traditions of hermit life, cloistered convents and monasteries are unhealthy. Yes No
18. Devils, miracles, an eternal hell and such are psychological-moral symbols, not hard, literal realities. Yes No
19. Catholic priesthood...male and celibate...is dysfunctional, repressive, unjust. Yes No
20. Access to affordable artificial contraception is the right of every woman and must be guaranteed by the State. Yes No
These are simple binaries: yes or no. It your total is in positive numbers you are more progressive than Catholic, and vice versa. Many Catholics and even priests are undecided or ambivalent on these questions. If you are such on more than a handful then you are afflicted with confusion and indecision of the intellect. Many progressives have good intention and pure, generous hearts but are in confusion. Do not be hard on yourself: Pope Francis and it seems Pope Leo also suffer such confusion and indecision. This is the ordinary state of the Church, our catechetical crisis, since the Council.
Postscript
The original version of this test included "progressive" opinions or prudential judgments which do not contradict Catholic teaching. One might agree with these without compromising the integrity of the Catholic faith. These included:
1. White racism is systemic and pervasive in USA 2026.
2. Our international system of nations states must be replaced by a World Government.
3. American power, greed and imperialism is responsible for most world injustices.
4. Evangelical MAGA-related crusade (e.g. Charlie Kirk), sometimes called Christian Nationalism, is racist and fascist.
5. Biden immigration policy was compassionate; Trump policy cruel and immoral.
6. Corporate capitalism is corrupt and unjust and must be corrected by massive wealth redistribution and an expansive state.
7. Synodality is valid effort to include laity in Church governance.
Agreement with these political judgments along with rejection of the moral statements above would make for a "Progressive Catholic," an integral Catholic with liberal political views. This is different from the "Catholic Progressive" described above.
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