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Catholic Answers Press

Can A Catholic Be A Socialist? - 5 For $50

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Common Sense About the Common Good

Pope Leo XIII wrote of the “harvest of misery” that socialism brings. Pius XI said that it’s impossible to be a good Catholic and a good socialist. John Paul II spent his papacy combating socialism’s dehumanizing statism.

Yet somehow this long-discredited economic philosophy is making a comeback, not only on college campuses and political talk shows, but among sincere Catholics. Some think it could be the answer to greed and globalism. Others even argue that it’s the best way to obey Christ’s command to help the poor.

Let’s give socialism a fresh chance, they say. A democratic socialism this time, friendly to religion and ordered to the common good like the Church says the economy should be.

In Can a Catholic Be a Socialist?, Trent Horn and Catherine R. Pakaluk refute this tempting but false notion. Drawing on Scripture, history, Catholic social teaching, and basic economic reality, they show beyond a doubt that Catholicism and socialism are utterly incompatible.

Along the way, they debunk many of the common claims used to keep afloat the fantasy of a Christian-socialist hybrid, including:

-Since the early Christians kept their property in common, so should we.

-Jesus would be in favor an economic system that guarantees everyone food, health care, and education.

-The Church—especially Pope Francis—teaches that Catholics must find a “third way” between the extremes of Communism and capitalism.

-Socialism would work if it were just done right, like in Sweden.

Although there is no one “Catholic” economic system, Can a Catholic Be a Socialist? also helps you understand commonsense economic principles that are truly in line with the Faith. For we all should work for an economy that gives life: fostering prosperity and the common good while providing opportunities to practice temperance and charity.

 One of the strangest things about these strange times is the attempt to resuscitate a utopian scheme that has never worked anywhere and that's typically left a lot of misery in its wake: socialism. Trent Horn and Catherine Pakaluk do a deep dive into socialism's fatal flaws, using the sharp tools of Catholic social doctrine for the excavation. Their book is a welcome primer on socialism's built-in deficiencies and a clarion call for the moral renewal of the free society. - George Weigel
Distinguished Senior Fellow and William E. Simon Chair in Catholic Studies Ethics and Public Policy Center

 Trent Horn and Catherine Pakaluk demonstrate, crisply and succinctly, that settled Catholic teaching and the evidence of history contradict socialism. Indeed, “Catholic socialism” is an oxymoron. Any young Catholic tempted to believe otherwise should read this book. - Jay W. Richards, Ph.D., The Busch School of Business, The Catholic University of America

 This is a very helpful primer to a dangerous temptation. Concise, with the essentials. Help get it circulated.
- Kathryn Jean Lopez, senior fellow, National Review Institute, editor-at-large, National Review

 Crisply written and sharply argued, this book brings together essential Church teaching backed by sound philosophy and economics. Trent Horn and Catherine Pakaluk have produced an essential volume for anyone curious about how to think faithfully about our moral, political, and economic obligations. - Ryan T. Anderson, Ph.D., St. John Paul II Teaching Fellow in Social Thought at the University of Dallas

 **This page is for a special package of 5 copies of Can a Catholic Be a Socialist for just $50**

 ***Promo Codes are not valid on this item***

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Additional Information

Authors:
Trent Horn and Catherine Pakaluk
Format:
5 Copies Softcover book, 208 pages
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7 Reviews

  • 5
    Socialism

    Posted by Mary on Feb 21st 2022

    The "why" is so important to understand! This is aalso a good analysis of the subject and historical review of the development of socialism.

  • 5
    Can a Catholic be a Socialist

    Posted by Mark Luther on Apr 5th 2021

    Please make this into a DVD for parish study groups! Thanks!

  • 5
    Outstanding teachings on why Socialism can never work.

    Posted by Thomas Lingafelter on Mar 23rd 2020

    Balanced, honest explanation of why the promises of socialism have never, and never will be achieved.

  • 4
    Good

    Posted by David Pinto on Mar 17th 2020

    Liked very much.

  • 5
    excellent book. I learned so much!

    Posted by victoria petry on Mar 17th 2020

    Every Catholic should read this book! I wish it could be mandatory in high schools and colleges.

  • 5
    Book Review

    Posted by Stephen Tambolas on Mar 17th 2020

    The authors do a great job of addressing the subject with frequent citations and references. They clearly make the argument in support of their conclusions. Well written and thought out.

  • 5
    Clarity at last

    Posted by Jill Dembroff on Mar 16th 2020

    I knew ‘some’ things about socialism, but a lot of truths weren’t clear, nor was I clear on its connection to communism. I also would not have had a good answer to the question of why a Christian could not be a socialist. So, things are much more clear to me now. The book is easy to read, but not simplistic. It’s organized and in chapters of a size that the content is easy to tuck away. The brief summaries at the end of each chapter are perfect! All in all, I believe I could give a young socialist a much better run for his money now than I could have before reading this book. And since socialism is looming large in the minds of the young, it behooves us to try to enlighten them.

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