GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY Govt. 477 CATHOLICISM AND THE AMERICAN POLITICAL ORDER Fall 2010

Time: TTH 2:40pm-3:55pm Location: White-Gravenor 206 Professor: Dr. Steven Brust Office Location: 3240 Prospect St., Third Floor (Across from Bangkok Bistro) Office Hours: Wednesday, 2:00pm-3:30pm and by appointment Telephone: x78536 E-mail: [email protected]

Course Description In Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville makes the following statements regarding Catholicism and American democracy: “If Catholicism could ultimately escape from the political animosities to which it has given rise, I am almost certain that same[democratic] spirit of the age which now seems to be so contrary to it would turn into a powerful ally and that it would suddenly make great conquests.”

“But I am brought to believe…that our descendants will tend more and more to be divided into only two parts, those leaving Christianity entirely and others entering into the bosom of the Roman .”

Also, in 1960, John Courtney Murray, S.J. had written in his book We Hold These Truths: “The question is sometimes raised, whether Catholicism is compatible with American democracy. The question is invalid as well as impertinent; for the manner of its position inverts the order of values. It must, of course, be turned round to read, whether American democracy is compatible with Catholicism.”

These claims serve as a catalyst for this political theory seminar which will explore the foundational relationship between Catholicism and the American democratic political order and culture from a theoretical, practical, and historical perspective by using representative thinkers, texts, and historical movements and events. In order to assess whether Tocqueville’s claims have become true, and whether Fr. Murray’s question can be answered in the affirmative, one must understand both the nature of Catholicism and the American political order and culture - its implicit and explicit principles, assumptions, and tendencies. To do so, we shall ask and attempt to answer a whole host of important questions: How are the principles of the American political order as found in the Declaration of Independence and the to be understood, and how should a Catholic approach them? What is meant by American? What is meant by Catholicism? What is the relation between the Church and the State with respect to the first amendment regarding establishment and religious freedom? What is the Catholic understanding of the relation between faith/revelation and reason, and what role should they play in American politics? Are Catholics divided in their loyalties to the Church and to America’s understanding of freedom, its political institutions, and culture as they have been historically accused? How does Catholicism relate to a liberal and pluralistic political order and culture? How ought a Catholic to participate in American politics, voting, and the culture? How can a Catholic contribute to the success of the American political order and culture? What, if anything, of Catholicism has or should influence America, and what, if anything, of America has or should influence Catholicism? The course will include both an examination of the differing views among some Catholics regarding the relationship between Catholicism and the American political order, and an examination of how Catholics, and the Church in general, have practically and historically fared in this relationship – especially with respect to current political and cultural issues which touch on the foundations of the political order.

Goals for the Course By the time you finish the course, you should:

* better understand the nature of Catholicism including many of the principles of , especially those relating to politics * better understand the principles and tendencies of the American political order and culture * develop the ability to think about, analyze, and evaluate key principles and tendencies of the American political order and culture in light of the Catholic Faith by means of reading, writing and discussion * better understand some differing views on the relationship between Catholicism and the American Political order * better understand how the relationship has historically played itself out * understand the challenges Catholics face with respect to contemporary political and cultural issues

Required Texts and Readings Compendium of Catholic Social , available at Georgetown bookstore and online at the Vatican website, which can be linked from the syllabus. I recommend buying the hard copy. The Following encyclicals are on the Vatican website which can be linked to from the syllabus: Leo XIII Libertas Praestantissimum (On Human Liberty) Leo XIII Testem Benevolentiae (On True and False Americanism) Vatican II (Declaration on Religious Freedom) John Paul II Centesimus Annus (On the Hundredth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum) John Paul II Veritatis Splendor (The Splendor of Truth) John Paul II Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life) CDF Doctrinal Note on Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life

Other readings e.g. Alexis de Tocqueville, Federalist Papers, Anti-Federalists, Will Herberg, Fr. Isaac Hecker, Orestes Brownson, Fr. John Courtney Murray, David Schindler, George Weigel, Fr. Joseph Komonchak, John F. Kennedy, Gov. Mario Cuomo, etc., will be placed in the “Readings” icon on the course BlackBoard website or are to be found on an internet site which is on the syllabus and can be linked from the syllabus on the BlackBoard website. Please give yourself plenty of time in advance of the class period to retrieve, print out and read them. Please bring readings to class to have for reference during the discussion.

Course Requirements and Grading

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Each part of the course requirements will be worth a certain percentage for a maximum of 100% for all coursework. Grades will be assigned according to the following scale: 93-100, A; 90-92, A-; 87-89, B+; 83-86, B; 80-82, B-; 77-79, C+; 73-76, C; 70-72, C-; 60-69, D; 0-59, F.

The grade percentages for each part of the course requirements are as follows: Participation 30% Paper 60% Final Exam 10%

Class attendance, participation and environment: This is a seminar course, therefore class attendance is especially important and participation in discussion is required and also makes for a more interesting class and it will better enable you to learn. This means that students are expected to come to class having read the assigned readings, thought about them, taken some notes, and to be prepared to discuss the readings. I can’t emphasize this enough. During class, students are to observe, think, ask and answer questions, and offer their own insights. Sometimes discussions will take the form of informal debates. Whether in agreement or disagreement with the readings, the professor, or with each other, thoughts should be expressed in an informed, reasoned, and respectful manner. The purpose is for all to come to a deeper knowledge of the truth of things.

Furthermore, since this is a smaller seminar style class, it is all the more important to arrive on time so there won’t be any interruptions once we begin. If on the rare occasion that you arrive late, please enter with as minimal disruption as possible.

Participation will count for 30% of the course grade.

Writing Assignment: To help accomplish the goals of the course – for you to understand the ideas and issues presented in this course and to improve your critical thinking and writing skills, I am assigning a major research paper. You have wide latitude in selecting and fashioning the particular focus of this paper so long as it falls within the theme of this seminar – the relation between Catholicism and the American political order and culture. Since this is a political theory course, the paper will be philosophical/theological in nature, and not a history or sociology paper (although history and sociology can be used.) You should move from a problem in the form of a question, to a description to a response by way of description, then analysis, evaluation and perhaps deeper insight.

The paper must be computer typed, double-spaced, 12 font, and include footnotes and a bibliography. It should range from 22 – 25 pages in length. The paper must be handed in during class on December 9. Do not email your paper. Late papers will be reduced 1/3 of a letter grade per day, and after three days late, you will it will not be accepted.

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A brief prospectus of your paper will be due no later than November 4. It should be about page in length, detailing your thesis, and the general approach you plan to take in the paper, what you think you will need to address, at least some books and/or articles you will be using, and the general organization of your paper. I will return it to you with any comments on the topic and proposed organizational plan.

A few weeks into the semester I will give you a handout which provides helpful information about how to write the paper.

I encourage you to take advantage of the help you can receive at the writing center: http://www.library.georgetown.edu/writing-center

In addition, I am available to answer any questions or provide any help you might need so please do not hesitate to meet with me.

The paper will count 60% of your grade.

Final Exam. The cumulative final exam will test your general knowledge and analysis and evaluation of what you have learned about the relationship between Catholicism and the American political order and culture. The final exam will count 10% of your grade. The exam will take place on the day and time specified by the Registrar’s office – December 14. Please plan accordingly.

Course Policies Absence Policy: Since this is a discussion heavy seminar, students need to attend all classes. If a student must miss a class session for any reason, it is the student’s responsibility to still complete the reading assignments and hand in any written assignment, and to find out from another class member what was discussed, and to obtain any information regarding any changes to reading assignments. In short, a student who misses a class session is responsible for whatever goes on in or is due at that class session.

Academic honesty: Academic honesty is expected of all Georgetown students. You are to do your own work on all assignments, papers, exams, etc. Faculty are required to initiate the imposition of sanctions when they find violations of academic honesty, such as plagiarism, improper use of a student’s own work, cheating, and fabrication, etc. Please see the University’s policy for Academic Regulations here: http://bulletin.georgetown.edu/regulations6.html

Accommodations for students with disabilities: Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss specific needs. However, first, students formally declare a disability by submitting pertinent written documentation from a recognized authority to the appropriate University office. All students needing accommodations for learning and/or general disabilities, should contact Learning Services/Disabled Student Services (1 Darnall Hall, Box

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571105; (202) 687-8354).

Cell Phones, LapTops, etc.: Please turn off all cell phones, Ipods, Blackberries, etc, and do not leave to answer a phone call or to text. You may use a laptop to take notes. You may not use it to access the internet or email, play games, or to work on any of your other courses. It is for taking notes only and if you are not using it for that purpose you will not be allowed to have it on in class. (And it should be a silent enough keyboard, if it is too loud, you will not be allowed to use it.)

Course Schedule

September 2 Introduction to course Setting up the question: Quotes from Tocqueville and Fr. Murray Matt Spalding, “Faith of our Fathers” http://www.catholicity.com/commentary/spalding/06808.html Robert Lockwood, “The Evolution of Anti-Catholicism in the ,” p. 15-39.

September 7 John Winthrop, “A Model of Christian Charity” p. 78-84. Mayflower Compact http://www.nationalcenter.org/MayflowerCompact.html

Declaration of Independence http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/print_friendly.html?page=d eclaration_transcript_content.html&title=NARA%20|%20The%20De claration%20of%20Independence%3A%20A%20Transcription

Constitution and Bill of Rights and Amendments http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/print_friendly.html?page=c onstitution_transcript_content.html&title=The%20Constitution%20of %20the%20United%20States%3A%20A%20Transcription http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/print_friendly.html?page=b ill_of_rights_transcript_content.html&title=The%20Bill%20of%20Ri ghts%3A%20A%20Transcription

September 9 Federalist papers #10, 51 http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa10.htm http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa51.htm Anti-Federalists: “Address by Denatus,” p. 260-267. , “To Beat as One: Plain Reason and Humble Faith,” p. 27-38, “Immoral Man, Moral Society,” p. 61-64, p. 70-73.

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September 14 Barry Alan Shain, “In Defense of the Public Good,” p. 21-47. J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur “What is an American” excerpts

September 16 De Tocqueville on America Vol. 1, Pt. 2, chap. 9, “Causes Tending to Maintain a Democratic Republic,: 274-288; Vol. 2, Pt. 1, chap. 1, “The Philosophic Methods of the Americans,” p. 403-407 Vol. 2, Pt. 1, chap. 2, “On the Principal Source of Beliefs Among Democratic Peoples” p. 407-410; Vol. 2, Pt. 1, chap. 5, “How in the United States, Knows How to Make Use of Democratic Instincts,” p. 417-424 Vol. 2, Pt. 1, chap. 6, “On the Progress of Catholicism in the United States,” p. 424-425 Vol. 2, Pt. 1, chap. 7, “ What Makes the Mind of Democratic Peoples Lean Toward Pantheism,” p. 425-426

September 21 Tocqueville Continued Vol. 2, Pt. 2, chap. 2, “On Individualism in Democratic Countries,” p. 482-484, Vol. 2, Pt. 2, chap. 3, “How Individualism is Greater at the End of a Democratic Revolution Than in Any Other Period,” p. 484-5 Vol. 2, Pt. 2, chap. 4, “How the Americans Combat Individualism with Free Institutions,” p. 485-488 Vol. 2, Pt. 2, chap. 5, “On the Use That the Americans Make of Associations in Civil Life,” p. 489-492. Vol. 2, Pt. 2, chap. 8, “How the Americans Combat Individualism by the Doctrine of Self-Interest Well Understood,” p. 500-503. Vol. 2, Pt. 2, chap. 10, “ On the Taste for Material Well-Being in America,” p. 506-8 Vol. 2, Pt. 2, chap. 11, “On the Particular Effects that the Love of Material Enjoyments Produces in Democratic Centuries,” p. 508-9

September 23 Gregory XVI excerpts; Pius IX Syllabus of Errors excerpts Isaac Hecker, “Relation of Church and State in America” p. 64-99. Orestes Brownson “Catholicity Necessary to Sustain Popularity Liberty” p. 1-11. http://www.orestesbrownson.com/catholicitynecessarytosustainpopula rliberty.html

September 28 Aaron Massey, “Americanism,” p. 1-7. Leo XIII Longiqua Oceani, excerpts Leo XIII Testem Benevolentiae http://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/L13TESTE.HTM

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September 30 Leo XIII Libertas Praestantissimum http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/leo_xiii/encyclicals/documents/hf_ l-xiii_enc_20061888_libertas_en.html

October 5 Bradley C.S. Watson, “The Social Darwinist Movement” p. 55-85. John McGreevey, “American Freedom and Catholic Power,” p. 166- 188.

October 7 Philip Hamburger, “Against Separation,” p. 177-192 Will Herberg, Protestant, Catholic, Jew: “The Religion of Americans and American Religion” p. 72-90.

October 12 Fr. John Courtney Murray, We Hold These Truths: “E Pluribus Unum,” p. 27-43, and “Unity and Religious Integrity,” p. 45-78.

October 14 Vatican II Dignitatis Humanae, http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/docu ments/vat-ii_decl_19651207_dignitatis-humanae_en.html Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church #421-427 http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/doc uments/rc_pc_justpeace_doc_20060526_compendio-dott-soc_en.html

October 19 John Courtney Murray, “Declaration on Religious Freedom,” p.668- 676. Fr. Joseph Komanchak, “Vatican II and the Encounter between Catholicism and Liberalism” p. 76-95. George Weigel, “We Hold These Truths 50 years Later”

October 21 David Schindler, “Civil Community Inside the Liberal State: Truth, Freedom and Human Dignity” p. 1-53.

October 26 Thomas Storck, “United States as Cultural Vacuum,” p. 79-86; “The American as Universal Man,” p. 88-96. Joseph Varacalli, “Plausibility Structures” p. 51-58, “ First” p. 85-96.

October 28 E. Michael Jones, Libido Dominandi, Part III chap. 9, p. 403-417, Part III, Chap. 11-12, p. 432-463.

November 2 Archbishop Chaput, Vatican II, p. 109-133. Cardinal Stafford on Dissent and Humanae Vitae http://catholickey.blogspot.com/2008/07/cardinal-stafford-on-dissent- and.html Archbishop Chaput, “Humanae Vitae 40 yrs. Later” http://www.evangelizationstation.com/htm_html/moral%20theology/ Sexuality/of_human_life.htm

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November 4 Catholics in practice – Pew Forum Statistics http://pewforum.org/Politics-and-Elections/How-the-Faithful- Voted.aspx http://pewforum.org/Christian/Catholic/A-Portrait-of-American- Catholics-on-the-Eve-of--Benedicts-Visit-to-the-US.aspx http://pewforum.org/Christian/Catholic/A-Portrait-of-American- Catholics-on-the-Eve-of-Pope-Benedicts-Visit-to-the-US-(2).aspx http://pewforum.org/Christian/Catholic/A-Portrait-of-American- Catholics-on-the-Eve-of-Pope-Benedicts-Visit-to-the-US-(3).aspx http://pewforum.org/Many-Americans-Say-Other-Faiths-Can-Lead-to- Eternal-Life.aspx

James D. Davidson, Lecture with statistics

David Carlin Statistics and “Denominations” p. 171-208.

November 9 Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, #1-104, #149-159 http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/doc uments/rc_pc_justpeace_doc_20060526_compendio-dott-soc_en.html

November 11 John Paul II, Centesimus Annus http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/document s/hf_jp-ii_enc_01051991_centesimus-annus_en.html

November16 Fr. John Richard Neuhaus, “The Liberalism of John Paul II and the Technological Imperative,” p. 289-306. David C. Schindler, “Neoconservative Economics and the Church’s Authentic of Liberation,” p. 114-142. .

November 18 JFK speech, http://www.jfklibrary.org/Historical+Resources/Archives/Reference+ Desk/Speeches/JFK/JFK+Pre- Pres/1960/Address+of+Senator+John+F.+Kennedy+to+the+Greater+ Houston+Ministerial+Association.htm Mario Cuomo Speech, http://pewforum.org/PublicationPage.aspx?id=611 Pelosi quotes, http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=29033 Planned Parenthood v. Casey definition of Liberty Call to Action Statement http://www.cta-usa.org/about/history/ http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=25182 Voice of the Faithful statement

November 23 John Paul II, Veritatis Splendor, para.#6-64, #84-88.

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http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/document s/hf_jp-ii_enc_06081993_veritatis-splendor_en.html

November 30 John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/document s/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031995_evangelium-vitae_en.html

December 2 CDF, Doctrinal Note on Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/r c_con_cfaith_doc_20021124_politica_en.html Cardinal Ratzinger Letter on Holy Communion http://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/cdfworthycom.htm

Bishop Tobin’s response: http://www.thericatholic.com/opinion/detail.html?sub_id=2632

http://politics.usnews.com/opinion/mashek/articles/2008/09/23/aborti on-catholic-sex-scandals-the--of-scranton-and-joe-bidens- communion.html?s_cid=related-links:TOP Rep. Obey and Archbishop Burke http://natcath.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2004a/021304/021304c.htm

December 7 Pope Benedict XVI, “Response to Bishop’s Questions in America,” p. 53-7. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger “Truth and Freedom”

December 9 Review and Conclusions Paper Due

Dec. 14 Final Exam 4:00pm -6:00pm

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