Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

As a Catholic, Mr. Hannity should realize that the entire neoconservative ideology from which the "War on Terrorism" grew is antithetical to Christianity, democracy, and freedom. Neoconservatism is an unfettered free market ideology that elevates unlimited profits to the level of God and thrives on fear, war, secrecy, deception, division, and consumerism. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, the American Catholic bishops, and Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI have all condemned this system of beliefs in no uncertain terms.

I reckon that neoconservative ideology is one of the most serious internal enemies the United States has ever encountered. In fact, I dare to say that it is a worse enemy than moral relativism. G. K. Chesterton remarked in Orthodoxy that virtues taken to extremes have done more damage to the world than vices. Why? Because the moral relativist openly challenges sacred principles, whereas the neoconservative floods the world with a multitude of grave evils under the banner of righteousness.  

Evil must never be tolerated or approved. At the same time, terrorists and other criminals should be treated with charity even when they are being arrested and prosecuted to protect us. The worst terrorist is still a human being with an infinite dignity and certain inalienable rights. Moreover, the imperative of national security does not automatically justify all counterterrorist methods. Torture and abuse are never any more permissible under God's Law or international law than terrorist crimes against innocent people. If we lose the distinction between evil and evildoers, as well as the principles of the moral law which hold us to an independent standard, we will be able to justify any policies against terrorists, no matter how evil, on the basis of national security.

My intention in these papers has not been to attack the integrity of, judge the motives of, or condemn any neoconservative. For all their rudeness and bigotry, Sean Hannity and his ilk exhibit an undeniable integrity, and I furthermore believe that many neoconservatives are well-intentioned. At the same time, I wish to alert them to the place where their logic leads. Because the "Global War on Terrorism" fails to address the legitimate grievances of "Islamic" terrorists, it will likely provoke them to commit more terrorist crimes, which will provoke our neoconservative authorities to further escalate the "War". This vicious cycle of violence will intensify and worsen, exacerbating social tensions and impacting progressively larger areas of the Middle East and the world, until we finally decide that our national security requires the detonation of a nuclear weapon. That unhappy event will trigger a worldwide nuclear war, which at first could be relatively restrained, but which would eventually destroy the greater part of humanity.

No sane and upright neoconservative would wish this to happen. But I hope neoconservatives can recognize what lies at the end of the road that they have begun traveling down. While I understand that fear of terrorism has driven them down this road, I would like to remind them that we should fear our moral and spiritual enemies more than our physical and political enemies. We ought to remember the constant exhortation of Pope John Paul II, "Be not afraid," and find the courage to pursue the opposite path marked out by Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI: relentless condemnation of terrorism rather than of terrorists, sincere diplomacy, authentic dialogue and cooperation, foreign aid for economic development, respect for God's Law and international law, nuclear disarmament, and sensible domestic security. This comprehensive strategy will help to remove excuses for terrorism and lead to a happier, more secure, more just and more peaceful world.