Catholic Republic: Why America Will Perish Without Rome

by Timothy J. Gordon

Some Christians decry the deism of our Founding Fathers, claiming that outright anti-Christian principles lie at the heart of our Declaration of Independence and Constitution, crippling from birth our beloved republic. Here philosopher Timothy Gordon forcefully disagrees, arguing that while anti-Catholic bias kept them from admitting their reliance on Aristotle, Aquinas, and the early Jesuits, our Protestant and Enlightenment Founding Fathers secretly held Catholic views about politics and nature . Had they fully adhered to Catholic principles, argues Gordon, the "Catholic republic" that is America from its birth would not today be on the verge of social collapse. The instinctive Catholicism of our Founders would have prevented the cancerous growth of the state, our subsequent loss of liberties, the destruction of families, abortion on demand, the death of free markets, and the horrors of today's pervasive pagan culture. In Catholic Republic , Gordon recounts our nation's clandestine history of publicly repudiating, yet privately relying on, Catholic ideas about politics and nature. At this late hour in the life of the Church and the world, America still can be saved, claims Gordon, if only we soon return to the Catholic principles that are the indispensable foundation of all successful republics.

Genres: Catholic, Politics, Philosophy, History, Nonfiction, Religion, American History

289 pages, Paperback

First published February 19, 2018

About the author

Studied philosophy in Pontifical graduate universities in Europe, taught it at Southern Californian community colleges, and then went on to law school. He holds degrees in literature, history, philosophy, and law. Currently, he resides in central California with his wife and six children, where he writes and teaches philosophy and theology. Gordon is considered one of the Godfathers of “Bro-Man” Catholicism. He does a popular biweekly podcast and is the author of Catholic Republic: Why America Will Perish without Rome. Two forthcoming Gordon books are due in early 2020, each co-authored with his brother David: No Christian Feminism (Sophia Institute) and Rules for Retrogrades (Tan Books).

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writing style is not optimal; had to kind of plod through some of it. But I'm giving it 4 stars because the content is so mind-blowing and important.

[Ray Boshers · Rating 5 out of 5]

See why America is failing

First off, I'm not Catholic and the author is. This does not change the truth. When you read this book you will begin to understand why America has been on the path that it is. Between the Enlightenment camp and the Reformed Protestant movement the very basics that a republic needs to succeed were never put in place. Timothy Gordon does an excellent job of bringing the historical record to bear and shows where and why it has all gone wrong. This is one book that, whether you are Catholic, Protestant, Atheist, or Agnostic you need to read. Once you do, you'll know what needs to be done to change America's declining situation.

[BoB Lever · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn’t finish the book. The premise of the book was very intriguing and I was excited for it. First the writing style of the author didn’t work for me. He was constantly referencing “the reader”. The book read closer to an academic paper than a book. The volume of footnotes was unbearable. I can’t imagine reading a non-electronic version. In my mind if this many footnotes (and they were necessary) are needed, there is something wrong.

With the limited amount that I read I was convinced that there maybe some validity to the book’s mantra that America is wired Catholic, labeled Protestant, and operating secular. I wish I could’ve finished the book to be fully convinced.

[Theresa Stiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before writing my review I looked at the other reviews. Glad to see that my criticism of the writing style was not just mine. I did get lost in the weeds at times. I agree with some of the other reviewers that this is a worth while book to read. It gives the documentation that supports another book, Strangers in a Strange Land by Arch Bishop Chaput, that our country needs moral citizens to work.

[Chuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye-opening

Very clear and concise revelation of the similarity of urbanite and suburbanite living, and how rejection of Natural Law is destroying our culture.

[Joseph Raborg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating philosophical treatise on the importance of Natural Law to American society and government. It argues that America has Thomistic roots but has slowly gone off the rails. If we want to save our republican form of government, we need to return to the truths of Natural Law and even to the Catholic Church.

This is a great short work, which everyone interested in the philosophy behind America's founding and our current state should read. The writing can be clunky at times, but it's well worth reading to the end.

[Anne-Marie Woloszyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new understanding of our republic

This book presents some key aspects of American differently. It presents Catholic Natural Law in juxtaposition to Prot-Enlightenment philosophy. Very interesting. A good read.

[Frederick Hammill · Rating 1 out of 5]

Slow, dry, dull, and inaccurate.

[Kingsley C. Eze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illuminating!

Interesting theses on the genesis and metastasis of the current US (and global) public attitudes, beliefs and culture. Prior to reading this book, I had heard of natural rights and even natural law, but never properly understood their effects and use--let alone Catholic Natural Law! The author explains and illustrates concepts, nearly too repetitively sometimes, but clearly enough to make his intricately woven and cogent argument. I will recur to this book for primers on the roots, multifarious aspects and evolving facades of today's global techno-socio-political movement. Mostly, I appreciate and applaud the demonstration of how Catholic Natural Law applies permeantly. Of course, read this book if you want an ether-tight exposition of the interrelationships of humanity, liberty and republic, interalia. It's not for wonks or nerds; it just flows!

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually found this book very interesting. It was a hard read. I only gave it 3 stars because it did not show how America will perish without Rome. The book detailed that America is drifting into immorality. It goes to great lengths to show that the Catholic natural laws are morally superior to Protestant theology or enlightenment theology A lot of the book was theory on why America drifted from its moral “Christian” roots and if it held to Catholic natural law it would not have done so.

However it did not address or show how that would work in reality. For example Catholic law would support small government and respect all people. People would include slaves and the unborn. It states that the federal government should only be involved in national defense and other functions should be handled by governments closer to the people all the way down to the family Problem with that and not addressed is the country would never have got off the ground if slavery was banned per Catholic natural laws as southern states would never have agreed to ban slavery. On the other hand if federal government delegated everything except national defense to the local governments slavery would never have been abolished

Another problem would be is how the nation would handle monopolies such as the railroads. If the federal government did not become more powerful then there was no way to stop monopolies.

It gets back to the fact that if everyone was moral and not selfish then a powerful national government would not be needed. The book points out that republics are not designed for very large populations

America has drifted away from its Christian roots. If its roots were Catholic I don’t think the book demonstrates that we would not have drifted. Catholics have a smaller divorce rate but it is still quite away from no divorce. Man is sinful. A republican needs a moral population and not one that defines its own truth. When they do liberty turns to license to be free to do what each person wants and that leads to societal downfall.

[Galen Rohr · Rating 1 out of 5]

You know for someone who has an image of the Blessed Virgin overseeing the capital on the front cover, you spend an awful little time (none) discussing Marian devotion, the Rosary, Magnificat, or the Memorare.

Timothy Gordon is an absolute narcissist. If I had a nickel for every time he references his own book as a source of authority, or invents his own terms for preexisting words bearing the selfsame signification, or repeats the phrase "wired Catholic, labeled Protestant, and currently functioning as secular" ...

What a waste of time.

Lastly, just because America holds some truths which Catholic Dogma also upholds does not then make it Catholic. A thief always retains something good from whence he stole.

[John Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this work has some flaws, it concisely defends and explains Catholic natural law and its relevance to an upright republic. It traces the social and intellectual decay of today back to America’s Founding Fathers ans their partial and incomplete usage of critical Catholic principles. “America is wired Catholic, labeled Protestant, and functions secularly.” Such a work inevitably overgeneralized, but it makes a strong case that only Catholic natural law can properly diagnose and treat the ailments that the USA is now experiencing.

[Ulyana Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read it in a day….a year or so later, things began to surface more in the church …I’d say the research is fair. Covering all the possibilities and what if’s, the tone came off neutral, even though the author attempted to defend his side (in which he succeeded) I do recommend the book as it is an easy read and a eye opener to the wicked and slow infiltration of anti religious ideologies in the Church. Now with several books on this topic, this piece of work comes off as a gateway read for anyone who is looking for a starter reading material about infiltration within the Church.

[James Sesame · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading it a year ago & had to stop half way through. I was not understanding it at all. My Catholicism consisted only of the Catechism (1958) of the Theology; but this book was mainly political. I had no idea there was any politics in Catholicism. I knew very little of Thomas Aquinas, the main source in this book.
I am only now finishing it after starting from the beginning again. I had to go back to the Introduction & memorize a few things. Then I was able to read it & understand it. It was still hard going but very much worth it.

[Imperator Zombie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While informative, this tome reports to connect the roots of America to the Catholic Church. While that can be true to an extent, it's not addressing the reality of the US as a nation which epitimises the Protestant Reformation, meaning that it rejects the Church at its core. Any restoration of the souls of the nation requires the acknolodgement of the Kignship of Christ and Mary, meaning a recentering of life around the liturgy and the Holy Institution.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely good read about how our republic requires the existence of natural law (as espoused by the Church), but the war against natural law brought about by the Enlightenment kinda dooms the American experiment

[Thomas G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

This is a fantastic, well written book by Mr. Gordon. A must read for serious practicing Catholics. Informative, impeccably researched and easy to understand.

[Zane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do yourself a favor and read this book. Don't listen to it.

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I normally like Tim Gordon but am going to have to disagree with the majority of his views throughout this book. The last chapter, though, was one of common agreement and very much appreciated.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote notes on the last page.

[Suzanne Petrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book that makes you dive deeper into Catholic thought and principles. I love Tim and follow him on uTube with Dr. Taylor Marshall. Highly recommend this book!!