Buckley on the Catholic Church

Buckley’s commentary is full of contradictions. Buckley, the conservative crusader for free-market ideals, does not have a moral premise to stand on.

The Catholic philosophy is quite clear: “Turn the other cheek” and forgive, therefore, its actions are consistent. Buckley, however, is demanding reality-based justice from a religion promising rewards outside of reality.

The moral premise of Catholicism is altruism and as a Catholic, Buckley is way out of line to champion an economic system based on self-interest. By subscribing to the Judeo-Christian ethics of altruism, Buckley is getting exactly what he deserves.

If, however, this supposed crusader for capitalism wants to find a proper moral premise for his ideas, he must look outside the Vatican and mysticism altogether. The moral premise for capitalism is rational self-interest. Buckley will find a defense of it in Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged,” but he certainly won’t find it in the Catholic Church or the Bible.

Until he grasps that inescapable fact, Buckley is fighting without any weapons.

SCOTT M. HOLLERAN

Glendale