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The Philosophic Background of Christian Democracy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 August 2009

Luigi Sturzo
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Extract

An historical experiment, begun almost a hundred years ago, is, in various phases and crises of development, emerging from die war. It must be based on its own specific theory, or, to put it more correctly, on its own specific philosophy.

To avoid ambiguity, let us agree to align the historical outlines of Christian Democracy with the two tendencies which developed among European Catholics in die post-Napoleonic period: first, the political tendency in favor of a constitutional system based on political liberty; second, the social tendency toward the moral, economic and political rehabilitation of the working classes.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Review of Politics , Volume 9 , Issue 1 , January 1947 , pp. 3 - 15
Copyright
Copyright © University of Notre Dame 1947

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References

1 See: “The Catholic Church and Christian Democracy, Social Action, 05 15, 1944, New YorkGoogle Scholar.

2 For the correct interpretation of this encyclical read: “Reaction against Christian Democracy,” in the cited number of Social Action.

3 See the Encyclical of Pius XI: “Non albramo brsogno,” June 1931.Google Scholar

4 In Race, Nation, Person (Barnes & Noble, New York)Google Scholar a French author who, since he was under Nazi domination, has not signed himself but whose style is recognized by anyone accustomed to his writings, on page 379 attacks the Christian Democrats as those who moralize, passing over the elements of force, political technique and that which belongs to the temporal order. The criticism, from the factual viewpoint, is unfounded (or perhaps it refers to particular cases within the knowledge of the author). The general accusation of looking on political problems from the viewpoint of Christian morality (saying that Christianity and Democracy are on different planes) presupposes dial which is absurd for any good philosopher: that is, separating human activity from all preceding ethical judgment, and leaving it only under the judgment of practical utility. If this is not so (and the Catholic profession of the author forbids it), the criticism of “certain Christian Democrats” and not of “Christian Democracy” should be levelled against the fact of their having passed over the possibility of political action, not against the fact of having accentuated the ethical side of the picture.

5 Fortunately, the present Pope, Plus XII, in the address of the Christmas Eve 1945, has given clear theoretic help to true Democracy as a political system of government.

6 Those interested in learning the observations of this author on the question may read The Inner Laws of Society (New York, Kenedy & Son, 1944).Google Scholar

7 See: Luigi Sturzo, Inner Laws of Society.

8 See Luigi, Sturzo: The True Life (Catholic University Press. Washington, D. C.; and St. Anthony's Guild, Patenon, N. J.).Google Scholar