WHAT POPES HAVE TO SAY ABOUT SOCIALISM

WHAT POPES HAVE TO SAY ABOUT SOCIALISM

IN PURSUIT OF THE TRUTH - HTTP://WWW.CINOPSBEGONEBLOGSPOT.COM - MON. JULY 23/18

Written by Gustavo Solimeo, Wednesday, February 24, 2010: Anyone who examines the ideology of socialism will see the contrast between the socialist doctrine and the doctrine of the Church. All the same, it is not out of place to review the condemnation of the popes starting with Pius IX and ending with Benedict XVI. Thus, we present what the popes have to say about socialism as they condemn the socialist doctrine thoroughly and entirely.  This isn't a comprehensive compilation,  just ... examples.

PIUS IX (1846-1878)

    "Overthrow {of} the entire order of human affairs." "You are aware indeed, that the goal of this most iniquitous plot is to drive people to overthrow the entire order of human affairs and to draw them over to the wicked theories of this Socialism and Communism, by confusing them with perverted teachings." (Encyclical, Nostis et Nobiscum, December 8, 1849)

LEO XIII (1878-1903)

    Hideous monster: "... communism socialism, nihilism, hideous deformities of the civil society of men  and almost its ruin." (Encyclical Diutumum, June 29, 1881)

A sect that threatens civil society with destruction: ...

Socialists debase the natural union of man and woman and assail the right of property:

    They ( socialists, communist  or nihilists) debase the natural union of man and woman, which is held sacred even among barbarous peoples; and its bond, by which the family is chiefly held together, they weaken, or even deliver up to lust). Lured, in fine, by the greed of present goods, which is "the root of all evils, which some coveting have erred from the faith' (1 Tim. 6-10.3), they assail the rights of property sanctioned by natural law, and by a scheme of horrible wickedness,while they seem desirous of caring for the needs and satisfying the desires of all men, they strive to seize and hold in common whatever has been acquired either by title of lawful inheritance, or by labor of brain and hands, or by thrift in one's mode of life." (Encyclical Quod Apostolici Muneries, December 28, 1878 n.1)

Destructive Sect: "... socialists and members of other seditious societies, who labor unceasingly to destroy the state even to its foundations." (Encyclical Libertas Prsaestantisissimum, June 20, 1888)

SAINT PIUS X (1903-1914)

    The dream of re-shaping society will bring socialism. "But stranger still, alarming and saddening at the same time, are the audacity and frivolity of men who call themselves Catholics and dream of re-shaping society under such conditions and of establishing on earth, over and beyond the pale of the Catholic Church ....  the words Liberty, Justice, Fraternity, Love, Equality, and human exultation all resting upon an ill-understood human dignity.... (Apostolic Lett.  Notre Charge Apostolique Aug. 15/1910)

BENEDICT XV (1914-1922) - The condemnation of socialism should never be forgotten. (Encyclical Ad Beatissimi Apostolorum, Nov. 1, 1914, n. 13)

PIUS XI (1922-1939) Socialism, fundamentally contrary to Christian truth. (Encyclical Quadragesimo Anno, May 15, 1931)  Socialism cannot be reconciled with Catholic doctrine because its concept of society itself is utterly foreign to Christian truth. Catholic socialism, a contradiction: "No one can be at the same time a good Catholic and a true socialist."

PIUS XII (1939-1958) The Church will fight to the end, in defense of supreme values threatened by socialism.( Radio message to the Katholikentag of Vienna, "Sept. 14, 1952, Discorsi Radio. vol XIV, 314)

JOHN XXII (1958-1963) "No Catholic could subscribe even to moderate socialism" (Encyclical Mater et MAGISTR, mAY 15, 1961M N. 34)

George H. Kubeck