Is Catholicism Safe for Democracy?

Is Catholicism Safe for Democracy?

The question that Weigel addresses in the ninth chapter is one that our country seems to always question. It was stated by historian, Arthur M. Schlesinger that “the deepest bias in the history of the American people is the suspicion that the Catholic Church is not quite safe for democracy” (Weigel 150). It is a well known, that many American people do not trust the Catholic Church. It also known that many people feel that if a Catholic becomes president that there will no longer be a separation of church and state. Our society has a definite problem with Catholicism, or is it that we are not educated with the truth?

Many people in American society have been born to believe that the Catholic Church wants to be the almighty. One of the biggest suspicions of the Catholic Church is that if a Catholic becomes president that the Pope will be the true controller. It is also thought that the Catholic Church is an “undemocratic system of alien control in which lay people were chained by the absolute of the clergy” (Weigel 150). Maybe this is the reason only one president has ever been Catholic, and ironically he was assassinated. Perhaps the reason had something to do with the suspicions, but yet it is one thing we will probably never know.

The abortion issue is probably the most debated in regards to the Catholic Church’s democratic politics. The Church is often accused of trying to push on its moral judgments on the democratic state. However, correct me if I’m wrong but don’t many other Christian Churches also believe that abortion should be outlawed? Actually, isn’t it many other Christians who also believe in the same moral issues, and in some cases advocate them more than the Catholic Church? Honestly, it doesn’t seem to matter whether or not Catholics are alone or not in their moral defenses because America will still fear the Church just because it’s such a large form of Christianity.

I feel that America is being ignorant to Catholicism. Catholics may have strong beliefs, but so do many other Christians. Actually I believe that there are far more other religions that should be viewed as a threat if they are going to target Catholics. As far as I can remember we don’t look for the Pope to rule us, we look to him to guide us in the deepening of our faith. However, most Catholics have grown accustomed to the debate and although it seems to portray Catholics in an untrue form I don’t see it changing anytime soon.