Comments for American/Catholic/Patriot at http://www.thecatholicthing.org , comment 1 to 4 out of 4 comments http://www.thecatholicthing.org Thu, 23 May 2013 08:50:17 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/americancatholicpatriot.html#comment-7290 Building on Chris Ramsey's suggestion (and moving to the 1950's), I recommend Yves R. Simon's Philosophy of Democratic Government. The book stems from Simon's Walgreen Foundation Lectures at the Univ. of Chicago--a series devoted to the foundations of democracy--and was published by the Univ. of Chicago Press, and later reprinted by the Univ. of Notre Dame Press. Simon argued, as did his contemporaries Jacques Maritain and John Courtney Murray, S.J., that the traditions of Aristotle and Aquinas (properly appreciated and applied) provide the most compelling theoretical basis for our American republic. - Jack Carlson Sun, 03 Jul 2011 13:05:04 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/americancatholicpatriot.html#comment-7284 Let me also suggest Orestes Brownson, a late convert to Catholicism and a prolific writer in the 1800's. According to a brief bio on the Acton Institute website, Brownson's "most undoubtedly famous book is entitled The American Republic, in which he sought to state a philosophic and legal justification for the American experience as one incorporating the problems of religion and democracy in a more solidly based theoretical system." Here's an even more pointed statement from Wikipedia: "He avidly supported emancipation and even made several trips to Washington to discuss the importance of urgency in this matter with President Lincoln. He also encouraged all Americans, especially Catholics, to be patriots in the country’s time of turmoil." Brownson lost two sons in the Civil War. A difficult author to read (especially with the "modern ear"), but worth the effort. - Chris Ramsey Sun, 03 Jul 2011 06:31:17 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/americancatholicpatriot.html#comment-7276 Correction. That was in "Confessions," which I also read, in which Augustine agonized for several pages about stealing some pears. - Grump Sat, 02 Jul 2011 06:11:08 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/americancatholicpatriot.html#comment-7274 Read City of God years ago; put me to sleep every night. "Make me pure, God, but not yet." Only thing I ever learned from it. - Grump Sat, 02 Jul 2011 03:45:33 +0100