I enjoy Anthony Esolen

Hovannes · Post by **Hovannes** » 04 Apr 2025, 08:58

...so much that I read his translation of Dante's Divine Comedy, which was easier to read than it was to obtain, having been out of print.
This morning, I came across this essay by Esolen, which I thought I'd share here:
https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2025/0 ... teachings/?

Comments?

Wosbald · Post by **Wosbald** » 04 Apr 2025, 10:34

+JMJ+

Hov's linked article wrote:[T]o ask people to consider what a society is [is] a prerequisite, one might think, for considering the social teachings of the Church, or the social good or harm to be expected from a proposed policy.

[…]

[M]any an approach to Catholic teachings, including teachings that are aimed at the good of a society[,] are treated as isolated instances, as elements of a mere set. Their relations to one another, outside of a narrow area of common concern, are unsuspected, unacknowledged, uninvestigated, ignored. They are not incorporated.

Tru dat.

Our Doctrines are a seamless garment. Our Morals are a seamless garment. And our Social Teachings are a seamless garment.

Objections? I don't foresee any.

Post by **Biff** » 04 Apr 2025, 13:32

Wosbald wrote: 04 Apr 2025, 10:34 +JMJ+

Our Doctrines are a seamless garment. Our Morals are a seamless garment. And our Social Teachings are a seamless garment.

The pope has no clothes.

Del · Post by **Del** » 04 Apr 2025, 14:37

Biff wrote: 04 Apr 2025, 13:32
Wosbald wrote: 04 Apr 2025, 10:34 +JMJ+

Our Doctrines are a seamless garment. Our Morals are a seamless garment. And our Social Teachings are a seamless garment.

The pope has no clothes.

The "Seamless Garment" is not a Catholic principle... It is a Jesuit principle. It is an equivocating moral excuse that allows liberal American Catholics to vote for the political party that promotes abortion, L-gibbity-Q groomers in our schools, Pride parades in our streets, and more abortion.

coco · Post by **coco** » 09 Apr 2025, 06:46

Biff wrote: 04 Apr 2025, 13:32
Wosbald wrote: 04 Apr 2025, 10:34 +JMJ+

Our Doctrines are a seamless garment. Our Morals are a seamless garment. And our Social Teachings are a seamless garment.

The pope has no clothes.

Popes run around without any pants.

Del · Post by **Del** » 09 Apr 2025, 06:49

coco wrote: 09 Apr 2025, 06:46
Biff wrote: 04 Apr 2025, 13:32
Wosbald wrote: 04 Apr 2025, 10:34 Our Doctrines are a seamless garment. Our Morals are a seamless garment. And our Social Teachings are a seamless garment.
The pope has no clothes.
Popes run around without any pants.

Like Scottish Calvinists.

Del · Post by **Del** » 09 Apr 2025, 07:03

Hovannes wrote: 04 Apr 2025, 08:58 ...so much that I read his translation of Dante's Divine Comedy, which was easier to read than it was to obtain, having been out of print.
This morning, I came across this essay by Esolen, which I thought I'd share here:
https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2025/0 ... teachings/?

Comments?

In our rush to derail the thread, I neglected to read the original link.

We are fortunate that we still have complete thinkers in this age of monomaniacs.

Wosbald · Post by **Wosbald** » 09 Apr 2025, 07:32

+JMJ+

Del wrote: 09 Apr 2025, 07:03 In our rush to derail the thread, I neglected to read the original link.

[…]

If you had read it (like I had), then you might've noticed that my comment summed up the gist of the original link.

The product of The Catholic Thing has lately been of rather spotty quality (among other things, too many writers trying to channel the shade of GKC), but this was one of the better pieces.

Del · Post by **Del** » 09 Apr 2025, 09:11

Wosbald wrote: 09 Apr 2025, 07:32 +JMJ+

Del wrote: 09 Apr 2025, 07:03 In our rush to derail the thread, I neglected to read the original link.

[…]
If you had read it (like I had), then you might've noticed that my comment summed up the gist of the original link.

The product of The Catholic Thing has lately been of rather spotty quality (among other things, too many writers trying to channel the shade of GKC), but this was one of the better pieces.

There's a huge difference. You read the article like a Jesuit: "How can I use the Catholic Church to supporting my obsession-thing?"
The Jesuit approach is to declare their thing to be the subject of "anathema" or "non-negotiable," attempting to bear godlike authority in what they bind and what they loose.

The healthy Catholic response is to see a particular concern (e.g., the Reformation disputes, or a current migration crisis) as a means for saving souls.

Obviously, no worthy Christian can vote for the Party of full-throated pro-abortion, illegal immigration (with its corollaries of human trafficking, drug cartels, and sex slavery), L-gibitty-Q school groomers, trans-ing the kids, DEI racism, censorship of free expression of religion, and vandalizing churches and synagogues.

We can all agree on this, right?

As Christians, we cannot tolerate that mass of leftwing fascism. Because "seamless garment" understands that we cannot make a heaven on earth, but we do need to keep the whole of moral teaching in mind as we devote political energy toward our specific enthusiasms.

MAGA Trump Republicanism is not perfect by any stretch -- but they are the Party of Christian enthusiasm and Christian voters. That's why they won.
Democrats need to let go of their pagan moral principles and embrace traditional American values again.

Jesuits would do well to re-embrace their Catholic roots, too.

Wosbald · Post by **Wosbald** » 09 Apr 2025, 09:52

+JMJ+

Del wrote: 09 Apr 2025, 09:11
Wosbald wrote: 09 Apr 2025, 07:32 If you had read it (like I had), then you might've noticed that my comment summed up the gist of the original link.

[…]
There's a huge difference. You read the article like a Jesuit: "How can I use the Catholic Church to supporting my obsession-thing?"

[…]

So what element(s), if any, of my original post do you dispute as being incorporated/interwoven?

Doctrine.
Morals.
Social Teaching.