The Popes and Democracy - PART II. Specific Concepts 18. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

What modern democracy calls liberty is a tyrannous claim of freedom. The ideal of Equality is no less misleading: it is true that all men are equal in essence, and that they all have to be judged by God; but they are not equal in merit and will not be equal in glory; they are not equal in knowledge, intelligence, common sense and wisdom; they should not, therefore, have equal civil rights. Not only is it unwise for the nation as a whole to give equal civil rights to everybody, it is also unfair to the less gifted citizens: a civil right entails a corresponding responsibility, and these citizens are, in fact required to take on a responsibility beyond their competence. Compulsory voting is an example of this. It is utterly absurd to give a farmhand a voting power equal to that of a professor of Political Science! Yet, that is just what is happening. At national level the result can only be disastrous. Egalitarianism, moreover makes all actual inequalities appear unjust, intolerable, even immoral. Far from filling men's hearts with contentment, it produces frustration, unhappiness, envy and hatred, with the resulting social evils. Egalitarianism overlooks an important fact, namely, that all men need someone else they can look up to for inspiration, guidance or comfort. Making all men equal is frustrating this basic and inborn need. "And such is the (alleged) greatness of human dignity, (supposedly) effected by the famous trilogy: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity! ... A theory opposed to Catholic truth, warping the essential and fundamental notions which regulate social relations in every human society. ... By separating fraternity from Christian charity thus understood, democracy, far from being a progress, would mean a disastrous set-back for civilisation." (St. Pius X "Our Apostolic Mandate") (The words in parentheses have been added to show the tone which is evident in the context of the passage.) "It is utterly untrue, and mere empty talk, to say that all citizens have equal rights." (Pius XI "Divini Redemptoris") "That ideal equality, about which they entertain pleasant dreams, would be, in reality, the levelling down of all to a like condition of misery and degradation." (Leo XIII "Rerum Novarum") "The masses ... are the capital enemy of true democracy and of its ideal of Liberty and Equality." (Pius XII - Christmas 1944) This passage seems to convey the impression that Pius XII supported the democratic ideal of Liberty and Equality which was condemned by Leo XIII, St. Pius X, Pius XI, and other Popes not quoted here. Needless to say, such a contradiction is not real. Pius XII took great care to elaborate, saying that "Liberty was a duty", and that Equality was an equal right for everyone to live in conformity with his station in life. This is not what the 18th century philosophists said and even when Modern Democrats do not disavow openly what the Pope said they certainly put quite a different emphasis on the words "Liberty, Equality". "In a people worthy of the name those inequalities which are not based on whims, but on the nature of things ... do not constitute an obstacle to ... a true spirit of union and brotherhood." On the contrary, so far are they from impairing civil equality, that they show its true meaning, namely, that ... everyone has the right to live his own personal life honourably in the place and in the conditions in which... Providence has placed him." (Pius XII "Christmas message 1944") Incidentally, this passage is a reminder that inequalities are not an obstacle to true Fraternity (brotherhood). Modern Democrats hold, on the contrary, that Fraternity can only be achieved when all men have equal rights in every respect. Moreover, Fraternity without Christian charity is only a myth. So, why not return to the old concept of Charity and drop Fraternity, its godless substitute?