Christianity, Socialism Called Incompatible Government Social Programs Reduce Charity, Scalia Says

Trends toward socialism around the world can be considered morally incompatible with Christian virtues, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said Thursday.

Speaking at a conference on political systems and the public good, Scalia suggested that governmentmandated social programs squeeze out the chance for Christians to perform charitable acts.

Scalia, appointed to the bench by President Reagan in 1986, said capitalism can lead to the “cardinal sin of greed,” but it also can allow for religious-oriented aid groups to flourish.

“The allure of socialism for Christians is that it means well, that it is altruistic, … but it also can deprive Christians of a chance for sanctification,” Scalia said.

“People ask themselves, ‘What need is it for me to give a beggar a handout? Do not I pay taxes?”’ the justice said.

Scalia told conference participants at the Vatican-chartered Gregorian University that some of the decline in religious orders may be attributed to the “increasing government monopoly” on social programs.

“I’m thinking of the orphanages, schools, homes for the elderly,” said Scalia, whose son studied for the Roman Catholic priesthood in Rome.

Saying that the Bible indicates Christ paid scant attention to politics, Scalia suggested Christians should not favor a political system because it seems righteous but instead should consider whether it allows them to fully practice their faith.

“Christ did not promise a chicken in every pot or the elimination of poverty in our lifetime,” he said.