Reconquest: Integralism & the Common Good of the Community w/ Fr. Thomas Crean, OP

About this sermon

What is Catholic integralism, and what does it teach about Christ the King, civil society, natural law and the common good? Brother André Marie welcomes English Dominican Father Thomas Crean, O.P., to discuss Integralism: A Manual of Political Philosophy, coauthored with Alan Fimister. Father Crean explains integralism as the application of the social kingship of Christ to the temporal and political order. The Catholic position neither completely separates spiritual and temporal authority nor merges them into a theocracy. Instead, it recognizes their proper distinction and hierarchical union, with temporal society ultimately directed toward man’s supernatural end. The discussion contrasts Catholic integralism with the separation of Church and state, religious indifferentism, anonymous Christianity and Jacques Maritain’s religiously pluralistic political vision. It also examines the belief—common even among conservative Catholics—that the American political arrangement represents the ideal relationship between religion and government. What is the common good? Father Crean explains that a genuinely common good can be possessed by many people without being diminished. Material goods must be divided when shared, but spiritual goods—including truth, virtue, beauty, faith, hope and charity—can be shared by an entire community. The highest common good is God Himself. The conversation also explores the family as a natural society possessing rights that precede the state. Marriage and family are not creations of civil legislation and therefore cannot be redefined by human authority. Brother André and Father Crean then discuss Saint Thomas Aquinas’s definition of law as an ordinance of reason promulgated by legitimate authority for the common good. An unjust command is not a true law but an act of violence bearing only the appearance of law. The interview concludes with the Catholic doctrine of the Two Swords, economic justice, the living wage, the moral dangers of an unjust economy and Saint Augustine’s doctrine of the Two Cities. True Catholic political order is intended to help families flourish, encourage virtue and direct souls toward their eternal homeland. Book discussed: Integralism: A Manual of Political Philosophy Father Thomas Crean, O.P., and Alan Fimister https://www.editiones-scholasticae.de/artikel/integralism/ Learn more: https://catholicism.org https://reconquest.net 0:00 Introduction 0:53 Integralism and the Common Good 1:02 Fr. Thomas Crean, O.P. 2:39 What is integralism? 3:18 The social kingship of Christ 4:51 Spiritual and temporal authority 5:50 Two false extremes 6:41 Why integralism is controversial 8:19 Anonymous Christianity 12:13 American objections 14:49 Defining the common good 16:15 Common and private goods 18:56 Truth, goodness and beauty 19:43 God as the highest good 21:03 Material goods and virtue 23:35 Society and eternal life 25:36 Revelation and grace 27:01 Marriage and social contracts 29:48 The family and society 31:24 Fatherhood and hierarchy 34:39 Natural societies 36:25 Saint Thomas on law 38:16 Unjust laws 39:13 Natural and human law 41:57 Legal positivism 44:24 The Two Swords 47:28 Boniface VIII and France 48:57 Restoring Catholic society 49:54 The living wage 51:38 Helping souls reach Heaven 53:32 Charity and friendship 55:14 The City of God 56:36 Conclusion Link of the program with links and articles https://crusadechannel.com/reconquest-episode-226-integralism-and-the-common-good-of-the-community-guest-father-thomas-crean-op/ ***Donations to Sensus Fidelium is 501(c)3 tax deductible*** 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 #CatholicIntegralism #Integralism #ThomasCrean #CatholicSocialTeaching #ChristTheKing #SocialKingshipOfChrist #CommonGood #NaturalLaw #CatholicPoliticalPhilosophy #Thomism #Christendom #CatholicPodcast

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