Seeking Genuine Catholic Conservatism

What does it mean to be conservative?

The modern ideal of conservatism arose as a rejection of Enlightenment principles and their instantiation in political revolution, particularly the French Revolution. Conservatives such as Burke and de Maistre defended the centrality of religion, family, land, and morality in bolstering society. Today, the word has lost much of its meaning as it’s largely become the name of the opposition party against liberal progressivism, but not all that distinct from it–almost progressivism light, embodying the same principles but in a more cautious manner. We lack true conservatives in politics who really work for local government and economics, promote education rooted in the formation of the person rather than pragmatism, and embody a principled moral leadership.

The conservative label also has been applied infelicitously within the Catholic Church. Rather than the political left/right divide that arose in the French Revolution between republicans and monarchists, it has come to represent alternative ways of interpreting the Second Vatican Council. Conservatives seek to preserve traditional expressions of doctrine and liturgy (whether Pre-Vatican II expressions or in continuity with them) and liberals seek greater accommodation to the culture and embrace progressive positions characterized as in line with the “Spirit” of Vatican II or a radical development of the tradition. When pigeonholed into this dichotomy, it can be difficult to characterize oneself as a conservative, because it will be reduced to a kind of ecclesial reaction (by nature negative). That may not always be a problem per se but it misses the deeper meaning of conservatism.

I would propose a more complete vision of Catholic conservatism, beginning with a deeper definition of conservatism itself. On the latter point, Russell Kirk provides a great starting point, laying out six general principles in his essay “Conservatism: A Succinct Definition.” My comments are in parentheses.

• “First, conservatives generally believe that there exists a transcendent moral order, to which we ought to try to conform the ways of society.” (This means that we do not set our own terms but accept a standard above our own selves.)
• “Second, conservatives uphold the principle of social continuity.” (Seeing social change as disruptive).
• “Third, conservatives believe in what may be called the principle of prescription.” (Preserving acquired wisdom and the customs of ancestors).
• “Fourth, conservatives are guided by their principle of prudence.” (Being cautious and deliberate in making decisions).
• “Fifth, conservatives pay attention to the principle of variety.” (Not seeking the lowest common denominator or making people conform to one absolute or centralized standard).
• “Sixth, conservatives are chastened by their principle of imperfectability.” (They are realistic, and perhaps pessimistic at times, due to their attention to human failure).

To these six principles proposed by Kirk, I would add two more of my own:

• Seventh, conservatives seek to preserve timeless goods by cherishing beauty in the arts and architecture and preserving liberal education.
• Eighth, they uphold the principle of subsidiarity by remaining rooted in the foundation of the family, the importance of self-sufficiency, and the priority of local community, economics, politics, and culture.

Drawing upon these principles, I would propose the following application for an articulation of a more robust Catholic conservatism:

• Conservative Catholics preserve the priority of God’s revelation and its expression by the Church in her doctrine.
• Conservative Catholics uphold the unbroken nature of tradition and seek to hand it on to the next generation.
• Conservative Catholics are cautious in the face of proposed changes in the Church and society.
• Conservative Catholics value the beautiful diversity within the Church of various cultures, intellectual traditions, and liturgical rites.
• Conservative Catholics are attentive to how sin corrupts us within the Church and work for continual spiritual and moral renewal.
• Conservative Catholics promote beautiful art, architecture, and music in the Church and seek to restore the Church’s tradition of teaching the liberal arts.
• Conservative Catholics uphold the primary rights and duties of parents and seek to form strong community in the parish, confraternities, and other Catholic organizations to live out the faith in daily life.

To balance these principles, we should also articulate some vices of conservatives: Emphasizing self-reliance too heavily and not attending sufficiently to the needs of others; having a reactionary mindset; resisting good and necessary change; being too idealistic; giving into a power struggle for control within a paradigm set up by progressives (which does not work); and falling into cynicism or even despair in the face of what appears to be unstoppable change. To overcome the vices of conservatives we could also add the following principles to push conservatives beyond narrow confines:

• Conservative Catholics should work harder to uphold the dignity of all human beings, especially those marginalized and vulnerable in society.
• Conservative Catholics should grow in hope by trusting in God’s providential care for the Church and human history.
• Conservative Catholics should give others, including Church leaders and those with whom they disagree, more understanding, support, and prayer.

Conservative Catholics work to preserve and uphold genuine and necessary goods within the life of the Church and society. In addition, they can break out of the confines of a conservative label, and the vices that follow it, by showing greater charity and hope to others.

I hope these principles provide a more robust and detailed articulation of the values and aspirations of Catholics who seek to remain rooted in tradition and to live according to timeless truths.