Liberalism is a Sin (Part I) - a podcast by WCB Ohio

*NOTE: Texts read from the book can be found below.* Fr. Jenkins discusses Fr. Felix Sarda y Salvany’s book, ‘Liberalism Is a Sin’ and how it is pertinent to the world of today. Includes a short background on the times in which Fr. Sarda y Salvany wrote his work. Fr. Jenkins says of this book, “every Catholic should read this book,” as it explains what is, “happening in the world and the Catholic church today.” Protestantism, with its sliding scale of creeds, is simply an inclined plane into the abyss of positive unbelief. Protestantism naturally begets toleration of error. Rejecting the principle of authority in religion, it has neither criterion nor definition of faith. On the principle that every individual or sect may interpret the deposit of Revelation according to the dictates of private judgment, it gives birth to endless differences and contradictions. 1. The absolute sovereignty of the individual in his entire independence of God and God’s authority. 2. The absolute sovereignty of society in its entire independence of everything which does not proceed from itself. 3. Absolute civil sovereignty in the implied right of the people to make their own laws in entire independence and utter disregard of any other criterion than the popular will expressed at the polls and parliamentary majorities. 4. Absolute freedom of thought in politics, morals, or in religion. The unrestrained liberty of the press. Liberalism, whether in the doctrinal or practical order, is a sin. In the doctrinal order, it is heresy, and consequently a mortal sin against faith. In the practical order, it is a sin against the commandments of God and of the Church, for it virtually transgresses all commandments. To be more precise: in the doctrinal order, Liberalism strikes at the very foundations of faith; it is heresy radical and universal, because within it are comprehended all heresies. In the practical order it is a radical and universal infraction of the divine law, since it sanctions and authorizes all infractions of that law. It knows no dogma except the dogma of self-assertion. Hence it is heresy, fundamental and radical, the rebellion of the human intellect against God. It is, therefore, the radical and universal denial of all divine truth and Christian dogma, the primal type of all heresy, and the supreme rebellion against the authority of God and His Church. As with Lucifer, its maxim is, “I will not serve.” Liberalism in the order of action is license, recognizing no principle or rule beyond itself. Liberalism is a mortal sin. …the gravest of all sins are those against faith. The reason is evident. Faith is the foundation of the supernatural order, and sin is sin insofar as it attacks this supernatural order at one or another point; hence that is the greatest sin which attacks this order at its very foundations. The gravity of sin is determined by the interval which it places between man and God; now sin against faith separates man from God as far as possible, since it deprives him of the true knowledge of God; it therefore follows that sin against faith is the greatest of all sins. If men were absolutely logical and followed to their ultimate conclusions the premises which they lay down, they would become angels or devils in working out the consequences according to the goodness or badness of their first principles. But men are not always logical; they often stop short of the consequences logically flowing from the premises preceding… There are liberals who accept its principles but reject its consequences… Liberalism is the dogmatic affirmation of the absolute independence of the individual and of the social reason. Catholicity is the dogma of the absolute subjection of the individual and of the social order to the revealed law of God. One doctrine is the exact antithesis of the other. They are opposites in direct conflict. How is it possible to reconcile them? Please visit wcbohio.com for more content.

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