A profound and systematic study demonstrates with irrefutable logic that Liberalism, in all its manifestations and degrees, does not constitute a mere political opinion, but rather a formal heresy and a mortal sin against the Catholic Faith. The work, grounded in pontifical condemnations, especially the Syllabus of Pius IX, serves as a practical manual for the militant Catholic, teaching him to identify, combat, and reject this disastrous error that infects modern society. The text establishes that Liberalism is the radical negation of God's sovereignty over individuals and nations, promoting a true social atheism. The analysis ranges from the definition of the error to the rules of prudence that the faithful must adopt, proving that intransigence in the truth is the purest form of charity.
❓What is Liberalism?First and foremost, the enemy must be clearly defined. Liberalism is not a form of government, but a system of false doctrines that, in practice, translates into a set of criminal acts. In the realm of ideas, its principles are the absolute sovereignty of the individual and of society, with complete independence from God and His authority. From it stem freedom of thought, press, and worship, the supremacy of the State over the Church, and the complete secularization of public life. In essence, Liberalism is the application of rationalism to social life, resulting in the negation of the necessity of Divine Revelation and the infallible magisterium of the Church. Its final word is social atheism, the exclusion of God from all human laws and institutions (Sardá y Salvany, 1884, p. 10-11).
⚖️The Supreme Gravity of the Sin of Liberalism
Catholic theology teaches that sins against the Faith are the most grave, as they attack the very foundation of the supernatural order. Faith is the root of all Christian life; to attack it is like cutting the tree at its root (Sardá y Salvany, 1884, p. 14). Liberalism, being a heresy that denies not just one but all dogmas by rejecting the divine authority that sustains them, constitutes the greatest sin. Except in cases of invincible ignorance, to be a liberal is, objectively, more grave than to be a blasphemer, a thief, or a murderer, for the latter violate commandments, while the former destroys the basis upon which all commandments rest (Sardá y Salvany, 1884, p. 15). It is the sin which, in the words of St. Augustine, "contains all other sins."
🎭The Illusion of "Moderate" Liberalism and "Catholic Liberalism"
One must not fall into the trap of distinguishing between a "good" and a "bad" Liberalism. The system is one, and its most radical consequences derive logically from its apparently moderate principles. The variety of liberal parties is merely a matter of degree, not of essence (Sardá y Salvany, 1884, p. 16-17). The most pernicious and odious form of this error is the so-called "Catholic Liberalism," which attempts to reconcile the irreconcilable: submission to God and independence from Him. This attempt to unite light and darkness has been repeatedly condemned by the Holy See, being described as more dangerous than declared enmity, because it hides under the veil of piety to seduce the unwary (Sardá y Salvany, 1884, p. 19-20, 31). A Catholic-liberal replaces the supernatural principle of Faith with the naturalistic principle of free inquiry, making their belief a mere human conviction and not an act of submission to God who reveals.
🏛️The Inappellable Verdict of the Church
So that no member of the faithful may doubt the malignancy of this error, the Church, through its Supreme Pontiffs, has formally and solemnly condemned Liberalism in all its shades. From the condemnation of the "Declaration of the Rights of Man" by Pius VI, through the Encyclical Mirari Vos of Gregory XVI, the voice of authority has been clear. However, it was the Pontiff Pius IX who unmasked the error in all its phases, culminating in the publication of the Syllabus in 1864. This document is the official catalogue of modern errors, and its condemnation of the liberties of worship and press, the supremacy of the State, and the separation of Church and State constitutes the definitive and inappellable seal of the Church against the liberal heresy (Sardá y Salvany, 1884, p. 34-35).
🛡️The Duty of the Catholic Soldier
In a world infected by this plague, the Catholic must behave as a soldier in enemy territory. His principal virtue must be holy intransigence, which is the highest expression of charity. Charity does not consist in tolerating error, but in combating it for the good of souls. It is charity to unmask the wolf, even if this requires the use of harsh words and the discrediting of the person who propagates heresy, following the example of Christ, the Apostles, and the Church Fathers (Sardá y Salvany, 1884, p. 72, 76-80). The faithful must avoid any complicity with Liberalism: they must not read its newspapers, vote for its candidates, or frequent its associations. The defense of the Faith, however, cannot be limited to the abstract field; it requires concrete and organized action. It is indispensable to form a radically anti-liberal political party, for it is on the practical ground of politics that Liberalism wages its war, and it is on that same ground that it must be defeated (Sardá y Salvany, 1884, p. 148-150). Union with "moderate" liberals is a snare that paralyzes Catholic strength. The only possible alliance is among those who profess the truth in its entirety.
🙏Conclusion
Liberalism is the great apostasy of modern times. To deny the sovereignty of Christ the King over society is the sin that cries out to heaven and brings upon nations material and spiritual ruin. No middle ground is possible: one is either with Christ and His Church, or one is with the Revolution. It is incumbent upon every Catholic, therefore, to arm himself with sound doctrine, to practice the intransigence of charity, and to fight, with the word, with action, and, above all, with prayer, for the restoration of the social reign of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the only path to true peace and salvation.
📚References
Sardá y Salvany, F. (1884). El liberalismo es pecado. Barcelona: Librería y Tipografía Católica.