Fr. McNabb's Principles, 9-12

The Principles of Fr. McNabb, 9-12

 

9)      As Political Economy is the child of Domestic Economy, all laws that weaken the Home weaken the nation.

 

10)    The Family, not the Individual, is the unit of the nation. 

 

11)    There are only Things and Tokens.  The world-wide economic crisis, if it exists, is a dearth of things, not of tokens.

 

12)    Now a dearth of things cannot be met by the creation or redistribution of tokens.  A dearth of things can be met only by a creation or redistribution of things.

The Principles of Fr. McNabb, 5-8

The Principles of Fr. McNabb, 5-8

 

5)      “Big” farming is mass production applied to the land.  Agricultural mass production is based on the Market, depends on Transport and, together with these, is controlled by Finance.

 

6)      A man’s state is not measured by his wealth; but a man’s wealth is measured by his state.  Hence, as state is social position based on social service, it follows that a man’s wealth is measured by his social service.

 

7)      The Divine Right of Property means, not that some men shall have all property, but that all men shall have some property.

 

8)      The natural defense of Freedom is the Home; and the natural defense of the Home is the Homestead. 

The Principles of Fr. McNabb, 1-4

The Principles of Father McNabb, 1-4

Father Vincent McNabb, O.P., is often considered one of the fathers of the English Distributist movement of the first half of the last century, though he did not consider himself a Distributist.  He often spoke at Distributist League meetings, but, being a priest, and not a politician or economist, he did not like labels, but instead focused on principles.

He laid out 12 particular principles I’d like to share over the next few days.  As each is worthy of reflection, I do not want to present more than four a day.  It requires a sufficient familiarity of Distributism to understand Fr. McNabb’s often very challenging points.  My hope is that they will inspire curiosity and further study.

 

1)    The “flesh pots of Egypt,” which must be given up, are to be left not for the milk and honey of Palestine but that “the people may go and worship God.” (Exodus 5:1)

2)    To cease to live in the town while continuing to live on the town may be serving Mammon rather than God; indeed may be serving Mammon under the guise of serving God.

3)    The area of production should be as far as possible coterminous with the area of consumption.  The utilitarians were wrong in saying “things should be produced where they can be most economically produced.”  The true principle is: things should be produced where they can most economically be consumed.

4)    Farmers should farm primarily for self-support.  They should sell as little and buy as little as possible.

 

Clearly, some of these principles would seem impractical in 2014.  They have to be understood in the context of a wider vision.  But they are certainly worthy of reflection.  And it is worth asking what value they can add to our often cold and impersonal economies.

Distributism - A Third Way

Distributism – A Third Way

 

About 100 years ago, some of the greatest Catholic minds – G.K. Chesterton, Hilaire Belloc, and others – were espousing an economic system known as Distributism.  Over the next couple of weeks, I would like to explore some of the principles of Distributism, and what practical contributions it may have to make to modern economics.

What is Distributism?  Simply put, it is a system in which there is wide distribution of productive property.  In a Capitalist society, the means of production, capital, is generally held by a relatively few number of capitalists, while most people work as laborers for a paycheck.  In a Socialist system, of course, the means of production are even more concentrated, in the hands of the government.  Capitalist societies are generally characterized by political freedom, whereas Socialist societies are not.

In a Distributist society, however, the means of production would be in the hands of many.  Most people would be self-sufficient.  It would be characterized by an overwhelming number of homesteads and small businesses.  Wealth would be measured by real goods rather than by tokens (paper money).  And the economy would be characterized by “economy” – thrift – not over-consumption and waste.  It is also a society with political freedom.

With almost all of the modern world vacillating between socialism and hyper-capitalism, a Distributist society is almost unimaginable, though it characterized much of the Western world for centuries.  But is it even practical today? 

Many believe the principles of Distributism still have much to offer to 21^st century economies.  Over the next few days, I would like to consider some of the fundamental principles (many of which will sound very challenging) and explore Distributism’s practical relevance.

Note:  I am quite inadequate to do this topic justice.  The most I intend to do is pique interest.  For a more thorough and intelligent treatment of Distributism, I recommend Hilaire Belloc’s The Servile State, or more recently, Beyond Capitalism and Socialism, a series of essays on Distributism compiled by Tobias Lanz.

True Extremism

True Extremism

"Who are they? Are they these extreme abolitionists, who are anti-slavery, and favor the equal rights for all people? Is that who they are? Because if that is who they are, they have no place in this state.” – New York Governor Andrew Cuomo

Okay, so that’s not exactly what Mr. Cuomo said, although it seems 150 years ago, it might have been. Because 150 years ago, the fundamental human rights issue in the United States was the end of slavery and the equal protection under the law of all people, regardless of color.  Today, it is the end to abortion and the right to life of all people, regardless of age or “desirability.”

And yet, the comment above was, in fact, launched by Mr. Cuomo against those of us who are right-to-life.  My purpose is not to attack Mr. Cuomo.  He is a politician, and he is playing politics as he prepares for a reelection bid.  It is sad, but it is not abnormal.  (And to be fair, he did backpedal a little, and "clarify".)  I will simply pray for him and leave it at that.

However, the sickening thing about this episode is what can, in the public square, be considered extremism.  Those who believe in the dignity of every human life, who believe the most innocent among us should have the right to be born, can be told there is no place for us in one of these United States?  Politics or not, the governor’s words are one of the most blatant examples of extremism I can remember, and that’s saying something.  But I doubt anyone wants to put money up against his being reelected.

I started this article with the quote I did because it is a quote that could plausibly have been made 150 years ago.  Today we would see it for what it is.  May the day soon come when Mr. Cuomo’s comments would be seen by all for what they really are.  And may his heart be converted.  There are no saints (save one) who are not repentant sinners.

Life on the Rock

Life on the Rock

The video below is a Life on the Rock episode featuring Kathy DiFiore, the inspiration for the film Gimme Shelter, and one of the women from her shelters.  It is long, but worth a watch.

Movie Review - 'Gimme Shelter'

Movie Review – ‘Gimme Shelter’

Gimme Shelter is based on the true story of Apple Bailey, a girl who grew up with a drug-addicted mother, a father she never knew, and in and out of foster homes.  At the age of 16, Apple finds herself pregnant and the victim of abuse, and decides to run away from her mother’s destructive lifestyle.

She seeks out the father she has never known, Tom, a Wall Street millionaire with a wife and two small children.  Tom’s wife is not pleased with having Apple in their home.  After Apple’s pregnancy is confirmed with an ultrasound, she is given an ultimatum: abort the baby or leave.

As Tom’s wife takes Apple to the clinic, she can’t take the eyes off her baby’s tiny form in the ultrasound picture.  Apple, who never wanted an abortion in the first place, runs off.  After a car accident she finds herself in a hospital, where an old priest, Father McCarthy, takes an interest in helping her.

Through God’s Grace, and the help of Father McCarthy, Apple finds herself at the shelter for teen mothers opened by Kathy DiFiore.  Here, for the first time, she finds support and a true family.

Gimme Shelter tells the true story of the shelter started by DiFiore who, in service to the Lord, opened her home and her heart to countless at-risk women and their babies.  During the credits, viewers are introduced to the real-life Apple Bailey and Kathy DiFiore.

The film is not suitable for children due to the mature subject matter and the lack of a message on sexual morality.  Of course, that’s not the theme of this film.  It is powerfully pro-life, and brings to light many issues that are so prevalent with women who find themselves in crisis pregnancies.

Surveys show again and again that most young women who have abortions say they would have chosen life if they had found just one person to support them in that decision.  More often, they are faced with pressure to abort, either from parents or boyfriends, as Apple received from her father.  (Her father, though, seems to have a bit of a conversion once he falls in love with Apple’s baby).

Many young girls make heroically courageous choices to give life to their babies and need someone to respect their dignity and offer them hope.

The film also clearly shows what data consistently prove: women who have ultrasounds – hear their baby’s heartbeat and see its pictures – are overwhelmingly more likely to choose life.  This is likely why some pro-abortion groups try to force crisis pregnancy clinics to obtain medical certification to perform an ultrasound procedure, while their own clinics, which perform surgery, are often immune.  It is also why groups like the Knights of Columbus have ultrasound initiatives that pay for the machines.

Gimme Shelter is a powerful film that defends the dignity of young women who are scared and pressured, but determined to fight for the lives of their children.  It also promotes the dignity of the unborn child, whose value is no less than yours or mine.  Finally, it highlights the important work of crisis pregnancy centers and shelters for unwed mothers.  Hopefully it will inspire changes of heart and an awareness of our need to support these wonderful institutions and the young women they serve.