We recognize that the 'Catholic State' is subject to the same flaws as is the 'Secular State.' So we are not inclined to be integralists.
But if the Politico summary of Patrick Deneen's position is correct, neither is Deneen.
...Within the cohort of postliberal thinkers, Deneen has focused on articulating a vision of what he calls “common-good conservatism,” an alternative to the so-called “liberal conservatism” that has dominated right-wing movements around the world since the onset of the Cold War. On economic matters, Deneen’s “common good” approach rejects free market fundamentalism and endorses nominally “pro-worker” policies to strengthen unions, combat corporate monopolies and limit immigration. On social questions, it is explicitly reactionary, opposing “progressive” ideas about race, gender, and sexuality and supporting policies to promote heterosexual family formation. For instance, Deneen opposes gay marriage, denounces “critical race theory” as an effort to divide the working classes, and generally supports policy to make it more difficult for married couples to get divorced.
Philosophically, common-good conservatism is premised on the idea that there is a universal “common good” that transcends the interests of any particular community or constituency — a belief with deep roots in Catholic social teaching. It rejects pluralism, as well as conservatives’ traditional emphasis on limited government, arguing that a strong central government should endorse a socially conservative vision of morality and enforce that vision in law. In contrast to the “national conservatism” that’s also gaining traction on the populist right, Deneen’s vision of conservatism is also skeptical of nationalism, which the postliberals view as a byproduct of the liberal order.
“It’s not that any of us is anti-nation, but there has to be something both less than and more than the nation,” Deenen told me — local communities rooted in specific places and trans-nation communities rooted in a specifically Catholic notion of universal humanity....
Areas in which Deneen's thought is subject to criticism--or refining--are italicized and we'll address them briefly here:
1) Politico does not define the "pluralism" that is rejected. That will be an important definition.
2) We have a strong central government and that IS the problem. For at least the next few decades, 'morals' issues should be subject to the same regime as is abortion following Dobbs: states can and should legislate on questions such as homosexual 'marriage,' tranny-surgeries, etc. Deneen's proposed 'strong central government' happens to comport perfectly with the anti-Dobbs bunch's desires. Let the States serve as the 'cooling saucer' for a while.
3) It would be nice if the post-liberals could produce some evidence of 'nationalism' in the US's foreign policies since............say.........Woodrow Wilson, unless "globalism" is suddenly "nationalism." We can live with a 'nationalism' which butts OUT of other countries' moral or governance principles and which bases its activities on the protection of American citizens and their overall welfare first.
4) As to that "....specifically Catholic notion of universal humanity," that it is 'specifically Catholic' would be a surprise to the author of Genesis, a very Jewish book. Now, then; did Catholic theology and philosophy migrate that 'universal' thing into currency throughout the world outside of Jerusalem? Yup. But it is no longer 'specifically Catholic' as a result; it's now "Christian."
It is accurately remarked that Deneen's writings are sometimes opaque and/or maddeningly generalized. But to characterize him as "integralist"--meaning that the nation should be run on specifically religious principles and laws--and none other--is a stretch. But even if he is, so what? Another group of corrupt men (and women) will arise and screw it up. Look at the Vatican as an example.
Should he be poked and prodded with the intention of making his proposals do-able in this republic?
Damn straight!! Let's start by recognizing the importance of the Declaration, instead of studiously ignoring its God-references.
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