By Fr. Glenn Jones:
Well … it’s been quite the “interesting” start to the new year, hasn’t it?
New York City has its first Muslim socialist mayor; that will definitely be “interesting” in the financial capital of the world. I, like many, find it hard to believe that, with the tragic history of socialism throughout the world, people are still swayed by its siren song. “Equity” sounds good, but that necessarily presumes equity in effort, ability, etc., which does not happen in practice. If I work harder to produce/earn more, it’s taken from me to give to someone who does not. So why work hard, or at all? Then the government eventually must assign jobs under threat of punishment rather than persons having the natural incentive of improvement of one’s own condition. That same pattern has repeated time and again. As former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher observed: “The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people’s money.”
People might argue: “Stay in your lane, priest! Why are YOU talking about this?!”
Because, dear reader, the Church (in varying degrees depending on the pope at the time, but Pope Leo XIII’s “Rerum Novarum” is of particular note) has long warned against socialism as dehumanizing, for it emphasizes the collective and negates the individual. In fact, Mr. Mamdani stated in his inaugural address: “We will replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.” Sounds warm and fuzzy … much like Karl Marx’s: “From each according to their ability, to each according to their need.” But people might reread George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” and see how Orwell’s prescience in imagery has played out in reality over decades.
Socialist/Communist leaders, of course, become “first among equals”, inevitably living lavishly on the backs of the working class they purport to uphold and yet plunder. Over 100 million and counting murdered or starved by that system. We’re not near such a state in New York City, but the slope is getting slipperier.
Then there’s Mamdani’s Muslim faith. We need only look across the pond to London and neighboring countries and their recent changes to see likely changes in New York: Muslim calls to prayer over the city, cells of sharia law, harassment of women not wearing “appropriate” clothing, mass worshipers blocking major traffic arteries, etc. It’s going to be quite the awakening to a different culture and standard—one that is very often at odds with this nation’s long-established culture, traditions and norms.
The second “exciting” thing of the new year is the removal of Maduro from Venezuela on January 3. Of course, as in so much these days, people very partisanly either cheer or condemn the move. But whichever side one might fall on, it begs a question: if a dictator destroys a nation, plunders and persecutes its people and negates elections, should other nations just sit back and let that nation “stew in its own juice”? How sacrosanct is the office of “leadership” of a nation? We see how it’s worked out in Cuba, North Korea, China, Soviet Union, Cambodia, etc.—absolute rule and untold millions killed for that “warmth of collectivism” of Mamdani’s. So, what are your ideas about rectifying such things for the relief of a nation’s people? We are often quick to criticize without offering solution.
As is often observed, if socialism/communism is so idyllic, why are people always trying to escape it? Why must capitalist/democratic countries build fences and restrict immigration to keep from being overwhelmed, yet socialist/communist countries build them to keep people in? Suggestion: view some Youtube videos from “Yoel and Mari” (formerly of Cuba) or “Ina” and “Hanaya”, North Korean defectors, and others who escaped communism for some of their experiences of communism vs. capitalism.
Why address these in a purportedly spiritual column? Because faith doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and religion and politics often overlap. Christians are called to love and care for all people as individuals, following Jesus’ statement: “As you did for the least of these, you did for me.” Well-known Catholic bishop Robert Barron of “Word on Fire” fame stated of Mamdani’s inaugural speech: “Catholic social teaching has consistently condemned socialism and has embraced the market economy, which people like Mamdani caricature as ‘rugged individualism’. In fact, it is the economic system that is based upon the rights, freedom and dignity of the human person.” Care for the good of individuals, and the good of society will naturally follow. Of course, no system is perfect and we’ve yet to find a system that is. But some are empirically better than others.
We all would, of course, absolutely rejoice if all persons were honest, kind, gracious, selfless, etc., immune to corruption. But unfortunately, humanity is a lot messier than that. But we do have a star to guide us in Jesus who gave us both teaching and example of the ideal: love of God, love of neighbor, manifesting that love absolutely by His voluntary sacrifice of His life not only for all of us, but for each of us. Individually. As saints have said: if Jesus would have saved only one of us, He still will have suffered and died even for that one.
As Pope Benedict XVI noted, people today may sense God in beauty, in science, in conscience, but they nonetheless need the Gospel to lead them to the living Jesus. The Christmas star appeared in the ordinary sky the Magi had always studied, yet it awakens in them questions, a restlessness that will not let them stay where they are. This might be dissatisfaction with a comfortable but empty routine, questions about suffering, or desire for something more than success and pleasure; people want meaning.
Thus, every person on earth, as we celebrate in the Epiphany, is called to come to Jesus … to come to truth and the eternal God, who is that ultimate meaning. The task of Christians, then, assigned by our very baptism and confirmation, is to live the faith, yes, but also to try to lead others to Him, because He is eternal truth and life. Like good gardeners, we sow the seed and cultivate as best we can … but, in the end, it is God who gives the growth. For to lead others to Jesus and truth, assisted by grace, is the greatest work of charity possible. After all, what can come close to helping someone toward truth and eternal life?
Editor’s note: Rev. Glenn Jones is the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and former pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos.