What I Learned from Michael Novak by ROBERT A
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issue 19 a publication of Ave Maria mutual funds what I learned from Michael Novak BY ROBERT A. SIRICO I first read Michael Novak’s Even though we were from different what he called the most “American” of morality into a national, and even have strongly resonated with John groundbreaking work The Spirit of generations, I soon found many the council’s documents, “Dignitatis international, conversation within Paul, who was deeply interested in Democratic Capitalism when it was parallels in our intellectual and Humanae,” a treatment on religious religious and secular circles. the workings of human choice and published in 1982, before I religious trajectories. We had both liberty and the rights of conscience. creative action. The pope was entered seminary at the Catholic identified as men of the left in early The often hostile reaction from his familiar with Novak’s thought, espe- University of America. The book’s life. Over time we moved from While his appreciation for the erstwhile colleagues on the left cially The Spirit. Through that and dialogue between economics and advocating some form of democratic church’s traditions deepened over struck me as more emotional than other writings, Novak’s ideas shaped theology made a deep impression on socialism to supporting the free time, he also believed Catholics rational. Whatever else Novak was important sections of John Paul’s me, as it did thousands of others. I economy. We spent needed to engage in his writings, “thin” does not 1991 encyclical, “Centesimus Annus.” wrote the author and asked if we might decades defending with outsiders. I describe the scope and complexity of meet once I arrived in Washington. free-market democ- believe most of his his thought. He eschewed anger, but The loss of a mentor is difficult — Thus began a friendship that lasted racy as the system friends and intellec- expressed a pleading tone in his but a legacy is a precious inheritance. until Novak’s death last year. that best reflected tual colleagues were responses to critiques, which he took Recalling those decades, I am grate- the truth about man. non-Catholics. as invitations to refine his arguments. ful for Michael Novak’s example of The first anniversary of his passing, His courteous demeanor was key to intellectual curiosity and engage- Feb. 17, comes at a difficult time. Novak’s philosophi- For an American his persuasiveness. ment in intense yet civilized debate. Americans face an uncertain cal and theological Catholic of Novak’s Likewise for his model of diligent economy and deadlocked govern- formation prepared age, ethnicity and People often ask me about Novak’s work, and for helping me see the ment. A vocal critic of capitalism him well. He had class, the Democratic impact on the thinking of Pope critical distinction between a leads the Catholic Church. entered seminary at Party was the natural John Paul II. Anyone reading the person and an individual. And I Young people are showing a 14 and completed place to call home. Polish pontiff and Novak in parallel will never forget the artistry of his strange attraction to socialism, his formation, but But his politics quickly recognizes that Novak’s well-made Manhattans and the joy as are many Christians who he withdrew before began to shift in the engagement with Smith, Hayek, of many memorable dinners with might have been expected to being ordained. He 1970s and 1980s. Mises and Israel Kirzner would comrades in arms. sustain Novak’s philosophy of became a Vatican More than anything, virtuous capitalism. The U.S. correspondent after the issue that alienat- lacks leaders who combine earning degrees in ed Catholics from prudence and moral vision. theology, history the Democratic Party and philosophy was the latter’s I was intrigued to find a theologian from Harvard and increasing embrace who was familiar with writers like the Pontifical Gregorian University. of abortion after Roe v. Wade. Friedrich Hayek. I sought his mentorship as I began my theolog- Novak began his public career in Novak told me his political change ical studies at a time when much Rome during the Second Vatican was not an abrupt conversion. of the academy was enamored Council, and he wrote in proximity Rather, it came as a series of small with Marxist “liberation theology.” to the events and debates of the time. conclusions based on his reading of I even suggested that Novak As the church worked to define economists like Hayek, Adam Smith squarely address that movement, human values such as freedom and and Ludwig von Mises. He was always which he did in another conscience, Novak argued that looking for solutions to poverty that book, Will It Liberate? theories of life should be grounded in avoided utopian dead ends. The Questions About Libera- perceptible truths. He believed this result was that Novak projected his tion Theology (1986). perspective to be best expressed in interior debate about markets and Even though we were from different what he called the most “American” of generations, I soon found many the council’s documents, “Dignitatis parallels in our intellectual and Humanae,” a treatment on religious religious trajectories. We had both liberty and the rights of conscience. identified as men of the left in early life. Over time we moved from While his appreciation for the advocating some form of democratic church’s traditions deepened over socialism to supporting the free time, he also believed Catholics economy. We spent needed to engage decades defending with outsiders. I free-market democ- believe most of his racy as the system friends and intellec- His thoughts that best reflected tual colleagues were the truth about man. non-Catholics. on faith Novak’s philosophi- For an American and cal and theological Catholic of Novak’s formation prepared age, ethnicity and economics him well. He had class, the Democratic entered seminary at Party was the natural had an 14 and completed place to call home. his formation, but But his politics influence he withdrew before began to shift in the being ordained. He 1970s and 1980s. on Pope became a Vatican More than anything, correspondent after the issue that alienat- John Paul II earning degrees in ed Catholics from theology, history the Democratic Party and philosophy was the latter’s from Harvard and increasing embrace the Pontifical Gregorian University. of abortion after Roe v. Wade. Novak began his public career in Novak told me his political change Rome during the Second Vatican was not an abrupt conversion. Council, and he wrote in proximity Rather, it came as a series of small to the events and debates of the time. conclusions based on his reading of As the church worked to define economists like Hayek, Adam Smith human values such as freedom and and Ludwig von Mises. He was always conscience, Novak argued that looking for solutions to poverty that theories of life should be grounded in avoided utopian dead ends. The perceptible truths. He believed this result was that Novak projected his perspective to be best expressed in interior debate about markets and I first read Michael Novak’s Even though we were from different what he called the most “American” of morality into a national, and even have strongly resonated with John groundbreaking work The Spirit of generations, I soon found many the council’s documents, “Dignitatis international, conversation within Paul, who was deeply interested in Democratic Capitalism when it was parallels in our intellectual and Humanae,” a treatment on religious religious and secular circles. the workings of human choice and published in 1982, before I religious trajectories. We had both liberty and the rights of conscience. creative action. The pope was entered seminary at the Catholic identified as men of the left in early The often hostile reaction from his familiar with Novak’s thought, espe- University of America. The book’s life. Over time we moved from While his appreciation for the erstwhile colleagues on the left cially The Spirit. Through that and dialogue between economics and advocating some form of democratic church’s traditions deepened over struck me as more emotional than other writings, Novak’s ideas shaped theology made a deep impression on socialism to supporting the free time, he also believed Catholics rational. Whatever else Novak was important sections of John Paul’s me, as it did thousands of others. I economy. We spent needed to engage in his writings, “thin” does not 1991 encyclical, “Centesimus Annus.” wrote the author and asked if we might decades defending with outsiders. I describe the scope and complexity of meet once I arrived in Washington. free-market democ- believe most of his his thought. He eschewed anger, but The loss of a mentor is difficult — Thus began a friendship that lasted racy as the system friends and intellec- expressed a pleading tone in his but a legacy is a precious inheritance. until Novak’s death last year. that best reflected tual colleagues were responses to critiques, which he took Recalling those decades, I am grate- the truth about man. non-Catholics. as invitations to refine his arguments. ful for Michael Novak’s example of The first anniversary of his passing, His courteous demeanor was key to intellectual curiosity and engage- Feb. 17, comes at a difficult time. Novak’s philosophi- For an American his persuasiveness. ment in intense yet civilized debate. Americans face an uncertain cal and theological Catholic of Novak’s Likewise for his model of diligent economy and deadlocked govern- formation prepared age, ethnicity and People often ask me about Novak’s work, and for helping me see the ment. A vocal critic of capitalism him well.