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Meet The New Jacobins, Same As The Old Jacobins
Political heresy builds upon heresy. What we are seeing today in the United States has a long history in Europe. Progressives in the United States are not proposing anything new, and in fact, whether today’s Progressives know it or not, their mistaken belief in state collective salvation.
Lord Acton famously said that “few discoveries are more irritating than those that expose the pedigree of ideas.”
The following quotes come from the Encyclical Divine Redemptoris, written by Pope Pius XI, and was published on March 19, 1937. Although it was written as a warning and condemnation of Communism you might recognize some ideas that are being put forth today in the United States.
Insisting on the dialectical aspect of their materialism, the Communists claim that the conflict which carries the world towards its final synthesis can be accelerated by man. Hence they endeavor to sharpen the antagonisms which arise between the various classes of society. Thus the class struggle with its consequent violent hate and destruction takes on the aspects of a crusade for the progress of humanity. On the other hand, all other forces whatever, as long as they resist such systematic violence, must be annihilated as hostile to the human race.
There is another explanation for the rapid diffusion of the Communistic ideas now seeping into every nation, great and small, advanced and backward, so that no corner of the earth is free from them. This explanation is to be found in a propaganda so truly diabolical that the world has perhaps never witnessed its like before. It is directed from one common center. It is shrewdly adapted to the varying conditions of diverse peoples. It has at its disposal great financial resources, gigantic organizations, international congresses, and countless trained workers. It makes use of pamphlets and reviews, of cinema, theater and radio, of schools and even universities. Little by little it penetrates into all classes of the people and even reaches the better-minded groups of the community, with the result that few are aware of the poison which increasingly pervades their minds and hearts.
A third powerful factor in the diffusion of Communism is the conspiracy of silence on the part of a large section of the non-Catholic press of the world. We say conspiracy, because it is impossible otherwise to explain how a press usually so eager to exploit even the little daily incidents of life has been able to remain silent for so long about the horrors perpetrated in Russia, in Mexico and even in a great part of Spain; and that it should have relatively so little to say concerning a world organization as vast as Russian Communism. This silence is due in part to shortsighted political policy, and is favored by various occult forces which for a long time have been working for the overthrow of the Christian Social Order.
I doubt that our new Catholic President has read this paragraph, nor have any Catholics that voted for him.
Nevertheless We cannot deny that there is still much to be done in the way of spiritual renovation. Even in Catholic countries there are still too many who are Catholics hardly more than in name. There are too many who fulfill more or less faithfully the more essential obligations of the religion they boast of professing, but have no desire of knowing it better, of deepening their inward conviction, and still less of bringing into conformity with the external gloss the inner splendor of a right and unsullied conscience, that recognizes and performs all its duties under the eye of God. We know how much Our Divine Savior detested this empty pharisaic show, He Who wished that all should adore the Father “in spirit and in truth.”[24] The Catholic who does not live really and sincerely according to the Faith he professes will not long be master of himself in these days when the winds of strife and persecution blow so fiercely, but will be swept away defenseless in this new deluge which threatens the world. And thus, while he is preparing his own ruin, he is exposing to ridicule the very name of Christian.
We need much more of the Church Militant, and far less of the temporal Church Triumphant, and the secular Progressive belief in collective salvation.
Published in Religion & Philosophy
Being a Jacobin didn’t end well for Robespierre.
Jacobins historically are not well known for foresight, long-term thinking. or deep reflection of the end-results of their actions.
In other words:
The left-right divide is one of worldviews — of basic definitions, principles, priorities, and manners of pursuit — rather than mere politics. I have commented on Bishop Barron’s popular evangelical videos to object that, no, Christianity is not a mix of leftwing and rightwing principles. The faith does not belong to politics, but politics proceed from core beliefs and interests. Ethics follow morals. The false morals that mislead many theologians are the same that mislead political behavior.
If American culture is to be reoriented toward truth and justice, we must recognize that evil has chosen a party (among other worldly vehicles). Courage without truth is an aimless and reckless fit of actions achieving nothing. Our shepherds must recognize the dangers if they are to offer any aid beyond the sacraments in defense. Pray for clarity and not just courage.
Which one is the Jacobin in that analogy, More or Roper?
Wow. Indeed prescient.
The events predate Jacobism, but Roper is very definitely an ancestral Jacobin.
You are correct but before he climbed the steps of the scaffold, he did plenty of damage; especially to innocent people.
Can’t have a post with that title without having this in the comments:
But Roper is arguing that the authority of the King is superior to the law. That seems rather odd for a Jacobin.
The law is an impediment to the untrammeled exercise of state power. If you’re doing it right, that is.
No. He’s arguing the ends justify the means.
I find some consolation that those men who stood up to the King, and then of course, lost their heads, literally, all would have witnessed the beheadings of those who had caused their persecution, some mere two or three years after their persecution had cost them their lives.
Karma is a force that often causes serious and almost immediate payback.
Would that this will be the same for us in the here and now.
Jacobins might have wanted to remove the king, but the throne should remain so they could sit upon it.
I miss the recently ended tradition of scholarly popes. The great encyclicals tend to be prophetic and timeless in their insights into human nature.
Joe Biden is the archetypal Judas Catholic pol. He called my brother and everyone else in the Ad Hoc Committee in Defense of Life liars for pointing out the fact that he (and Gore) had signed the pledge to support a constitutional amendment to reverse Roe v. Wade. In 1988 Biden realized that no pro-lifer could get nominated and instantly developed amnesia about his abortion position as he has for so many other deeply held beliefs over the years.
There is absolutely no core, no substance to the man. There is this ongoing act, this persona of the Irish glad-handed pol that insinuates a connection to a culture, a political and moral tradition that he dispensed with long ago.
Joe has a history of amnesia. In Iowa in 1987, he forgot he wasn’t Neil Kinnock.
What’s the over/under on how many little girls he sniffs?
Did anyone notice the headlines this morning where Antifa and other left wing thugs trashed up more buildings in Seattle, Portland and LA upon the crowning of Biden/Harris? This included a DNC headquarters. They hate everyone and nothing has changed in these cities. Now it’s Biden’s problem and their “philosophies” stem from these very ideas that you mention. Keep twisting truth and dissing law and order. Keep giving people things instead of promoting responsibility.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/anti-biden-antifa-portland-police
Also, the Catholic Church and Christianity overall, stands in the way of The Great Reset and these secular leaders behind it will do whatever they can to silence her once and for all – it will be interesting to see how our new Catholic president handles this ‘contradiction’.
They need to remember what Hitler did to the SA. Antifa is disposable now.
Well, if they sell tickets to an American version of “Night of the Long Knives”, put me down for one in the first row…
There are times when I am proud to be a brother to both Doug And Brian. This is one of them.
There’s too many Watts in this room…
Just an example of Watt’s up.
I’m having trouble deciphering your meaning. The interwebs makes anonymous snark all too easy. Please clarify.
I know it is possible to try to make fun of our name, but one who shared it at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution probably changed the world more than any other single person in the last 300 years. There’s also a few pretty good NFL players named Watt. Too many or not enough?
We’ve got one more Rhody than we have Watts.