Socialism and the Gospel of Envy

There seems to be an increase of Americans embracing socialism. Do they know what it entails? Have they learned from the events of history past? Even the Catholic Church has consistently been vocal about the flaws of socialism.

Socialism is defined as an economic and political system advocating for collective or government ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods. It aims to reduce inequality by prioritizing social welfare, equitable distribution of resources, and democratic control over the economy rather than relying on private profit-driven markets.

Some examples include:

· Social Ownership: Productive property (factories, farms, banks) is owned by the public or the state, rather than individuals.

· Equality Focus: Aims to narrow the gap between the wealthy and the working class through redistribution, public services, and social safety nets.

· Economic Planning: Often involves central planning or democratic, cooperative decision-making regarding production, rather than reliance on market competition.

· Addressing Capitalism's Flaws: Originating during the Industrial Revolution, it arose to counteract exploitation, poverty, and wealth concentration believed to be inherent in capitalism.

Common types and interpretations

· Democratic Socialism: Advocates for reorganizing the economy to meet human needs through democratic processes, rejecting authoritarianism.

· Social Democracy: A hybrid system often seen in modern welfare states, combining a market economy with high taxes, strong regulations, and robust social programs.

· Marxian Socialism/Communism: Frequently associated with Marxist theory, advocating for the revolutionary overthrow of capitalism to create a classless society.

Even the church knew that socialism was never about freedom. Three key encyclicals tackle the issue of socialism.

Rerum Novarum (Pope Leo XIII, 1891): Expressly rejected socialism, calling it unjust and harmful to workers, and defended the right to private property.

Quadragesimo Anno (Pope Pius XI, 1931): Declared that "socialism, whether it be considered as a doctrine, or as an historical fact, or as a movement... cannot be reconciled with the doctrines of the Catholic Church". Even Trent Horn explores this in an article for Catholic Answers. 

Centesimus Annus (Pope John Paul II, 1991): Written after the fall of communism in Russia, it reinforced the rejection of socialism and the importance of private property and human freedom.

So how is socialism a gospel of envy? Thomas Jefferson once said, “The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.” Socialism wants to rob people who don’t want to work a day in their lives while stealing from those who work the hardest. In other words, it makes people lazy and reliant on the government and other people's way of living.

Socialism is immoral. It teaches us to be lazy while taking too much away from those who earn a living. We need to be more vocal against this evil ideology.