What form of govt. do you think is best?

[Resurrexi]

Which polotical system do you believe in? I personally believe in a Catholic Monarchy, but Catholic Theocracy is better than Non-Catholic Monarchy.

Edit: Just so everyone knows, by "Catholic Theocracy" I mean "A government ruled by Ecclesiastical Authorities (e.g. The Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, etc.)

Edited February 12, 2006 by StThomasMore

[Nathan]

Non-Catholic democracy -- non-Catholic as in, not governed by the Church or exclusively by Catholics. But firmly rooted in Judeo-Christian ethics and values.

In a word, America.

Edited February 12, 2006 by Nathan

[Cam42]

I happen to favor a representative democracy. I believe that it is the most liberating form of government in society today.

[God Conquers]

Parliamentary Democracy, with a Catholic Monarch.

Isn't a Republic a democratric country? There isn't really any difference there.

And there are WAY too many options there.

[Resurrexi]

[quote]Isn't a Republic a democratric country? There isn't really any difference there. [/quote]

No, not exactly.

[quote]Main Entry: re·pub·lic
Pronunciation: ri-'p&-blik
Function: noun
Etymology: French république, from Middle French republique, from Latin respublica, from res thing, wealth + publica, feminine of publicus public -- more at REAL, PUBLIC
1 a (1) : a government having a chief of state who is not a monarch and who in modern times is usually a president (2) : a political unit (as a nation) having such a form of government b (1) : a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them and governing according to law (2) : a political unit (as a nation) having such a form of government c : a usually specified republican government of a political unit <the French Fourth Republic>
2 : a body of persons freely engaged in a specified activity <the republic of letters>
3 : a constituent political and territorial unit of the former nations of Czechoslovakia, the U.S.S.R., or Yugoslavia [/quote]

[quote]Main Entry: de·moc·ra·cy
Pronunciation: di-'mä-kr&-sE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -cies
Etymology: Middle French democratie, from Late Latin democratia, from Greek dEmokratia, from dEmos + -kratia -cracy
1 a : government by the people; especially : rule of the majority b : a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections
2 : a political unit that has a democratic government
3 capitalized : the principles and policies of the Democratic party in the U.S.
4 : the common people especially when constituting the source of political authority
5 : the absence of hereditary or arbitrary class distinctions or privileges  
[/quote]


[quote]Parliamentary Democracy, with a Catholic Monarch. [/quote]

so you would fit well in England before 1534, eh?

Edited February 12, 2006 by StThomasMore

[God Conquers]

Ya, a republic is simply a form of democratic government.


And yes, I heart Henry V.

[peach_cube]

How would "Catholic Anarchy" work?

[Resurrexi]

[quote]How would "Catholic Anarchy" work? [/quote]

ever heard of Guy Fawkes?

edit: oh, and I was talking to Sam (EENS) and he said that if he werent temporarily banned, he would vote "Catholic Monarchy"

Edited February 13, 2006 by StThomasMore

[Cam42]

[quote name='StThomasMore' date='Feb 12 2006, 07:07 PM']ever heard of Guy Fawkes?

edit: oh, and I was talking to Sam (EENS) and he said that if he werent temporarily banned, he would vote "Catholic Monarchy"
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[/quote]

Guy Fawkes was not an advocate of anarchy. Catholic or otherwise. He was not in favor of an absence of any cohesive principle, such as a common standard or purpose.

And to be honest, anarchy is contrary to Catholic thought. Catholicism has never advocated a state of lawlessness and disorder or political disorder and confusion.

If you can point to where this is the case, show us.

[Resurrexi]

I am not an anarchist, so I have no point to make. I, personally, wouldnt think that there would be a Catholic dictatorship either, but I made a Catholic and pagan (pagan=any non-Catholic religion or no formal state religion) choice for each polotical system.

Edited February 13, 2006 by StThomasMore

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='Cam42' date='Feb 12 2006, 05:35 PM']I happen to favor a representative democracy.  I believe that it is the most liberating form of government in society today.
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[/quote]

[Myles Domini]

I hate to be finiky but its political system. Out of prefence I'd choose a limited monarchy but thats not for religious reasons but theoretical ones. My opinion of what the games of government and politics can achieve is not high and all in all I've adopted the ideaology of St Augustine as presented in his 'City of God'.

The earthly city is the product of original sin and inextricably bound up with original sin accordingly there will never be a perfect political system. Politics itself is a product of the will to dominate which arises from original sin. Accordingly it is inherently corrupt.

So long as political systems do not set themselves in opposition to the Heavenly City I dont care which I live under. So long as we are free to expand the Kingdom of God and practice the faith of the Church I'm not bothered with the system of rule. Rome wasn't built in a day but it collaspsed overnight. Only the Heavenly City will be present at the end of days and thus so long as the earthly city--regardless of its form--doesn't try to oppose it, let civilisations stand and fall it matters not to me.

Edited February 13, 2006 by Myles

[Laudate_Dominum]

I'm now an anarchist.

Inspired by the Bible, the desert fathers, St. Francis of Assisi, Tolstoy, Ghandi, Kierkegaard, Thoreau, Dorothy Day, Berdyaev, and Hagerty.

Ok, I'm kidding.. I'm still a neo-distributist panarchist. To avoid confusion, let's just say I'm Chestertonian and Bellocian at heart.

[Laudate_Dominum]

[quote name='Cam42' date='Feb 12 2006, 04:35 PM']I happen to favor a representative democracy.  I believe that it is the most liberating form of government in society today.
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[/quote]
I think it's masonic revolutionary filth that degrades humanity and ultimately overthrows all that is authentically human with a mechanistic and evil will to power. All in the name of freedom of course.

The decendants of Brian Borumha mac Cennetig ought to rule the world. The empire of the Dal gCais shall rise!
I advocate the supreme dominion of the Lord Inchiquin and seek to elevate the clan of Aloysius of Inishowen.

I'm just playing.

[Era Might]

The Church rejects a theocracy, as you define it ("A government ruled by Ecclesiastical Authorities"):

[quote]Here politics and faith meet. Faith by its specific nature is an encounter with the living God—an encounter opening up new horizons extending beyond the sphere of reason. But it is also a purifying force for reason itself. From God's standpoint, faith liberates reason from its blind spots and therefore helps it to be ever more fully itself. Faith enables reason to do its work more effectively and to see its proper object more clearly. This is where Catholic social doctrine has its place: it has no intention of giving the Church power over the State. Even less is it an attempt to impose on those who do not share the faith ways of thinking and modes of conduct proper to faith. Its aim is simply to help purify reason and to contribute, here and now, to the acknowledgment and attainment of what is just.

--Pope Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter "Deus Caritas Est"[/quote]

Edited February 13, 2006 by Era Might

[Resurrexi]

[quote]The Church rejects a theocracy, as you define it ("A government ruled by Ecclesiastical Authorities"):[/quote]

what do you call Vatican City or the Former Papal States? Theocracy is good and within the teachings of the Church. If you mean the definition of Theocracy to be "a government in which Catholicism is the offocial religion and there is no separation of Church and state" then it is very much supported by the Church. I believe religious freedom is a horrid and evil principal.

[Paphnutius]

[quote name='StThomasMore' date='Feb 12 2006, 06:28 PM']what do you call Vatican City or the Former Papal States? Theocracy is good and within the teachings of the Church. If you mean the definition of Theocracy to be "a government in which Catholicism is the offocial religion and there is no separation of Church and state" then it is very much supported by the Church. I believe religious freedom is a horrid and evil principal.
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[/quote]
Vatican city is not ran by the pope, he appoints the government leaders.

[Resurrexi]

[quote]Vatican city is not ran by the pope, he appoints the government leaders. [/quote]

well, excuse me, but who were the Papal States run by?

[Era Might]

[quote name='StThomasMore' date='Feb 12 2006, 08:28 PM']what do you call Vatican City or the Former Papal States? Theocracy is good and within the teachings of the Church. If you mean the definition of Theocracy to be "a government in which Catholicism is the offocial religion and there is no separation of Church and state" then it is very much supported by the Church. I believe religious freedom is a horrid and evil principal.
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Vatican City is not relevant here. It is a special arrangement made with the Italian government so that the institutional Church can regulate her affairs. It is not a nation of real political and social circumstance.

Citing the Papal States is also not relevant, as they corresponded to an entirely different world order. Not only is the world essentially a different world today, but the Church's social doctrine has developed.

Her enunciation of religious freedom, authentically set out at the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, is not yours to judge as "horrid and evil".

Edited February 13, 2006 by Era Might

[qfnol31]

[quote name='Pope Benedict' date=' via Era Might']This is where Catholic social doctrine has its place: it has no intention of giving the Church power over the State.[/quote]

I could be wrong, but it seems to me this is just coming from a theological standpoint. I'm not too sure, but I do not think this says absolutely no Bishops, etc, in the government...Only that doctrine does not give that place.