Bishop criticizes Milei’s rejection of social justice: It is a very serious error

The Bishop of Orihuela-Alicante (Spain), Bishop José Ignacio Munilla, described as a “very serious error” the rejection expressed by the president of Argentina, Javier Milei, of the concept of social justice and denounces the lack of doctrinal consistency of the new right .

During the broadcast of your program Sixth Continent on Radio María Spain This Monday, May 20, the Spanish prelate referred to the idea expressed by Milei in different forums that social justice is “aberrant,” as he has also done in the presentation of his book The path of the libertarian in Madrid, where he participated in an event by Vox, a group led by Santiago Abascal.

The prelate has addressed the issue stating that the statement that social justice is aberrant “makes clear a drift of a right that exists internationally, a new right that is uprooted from the Gospel, from the Social Doctrine of the Church” to which It lacks “a political philosophy of thought.”

Mons. Munilla is convinced that what the Argentine president is referring to is that, in his country, previous governments “have invoked social justice and have led the people to incredible poverty,” manipulating this concept to “gain loyalty to the I vote, in some way, buying it with continuous subsidies.”

Despite understanding where the rejection of the concept of social doctrine comes from, the Bishop of Orihuela-Alicante emphasizes that “proceeding in this way is a very serious error”, equivalent to defining the idea of ​​love as aberrant due to the manipulation that is done of the concept. .

“If the word love is being manipulated, let us denounce that manipulation and rescue true love. If the concept of social justice is being manipulated, let us denounce that manipulation and rescue true social justice. We will have to fight against the manipulation of the concept, but not give up on it,” she adds.

For the prelate, it would not be enough to replace the term “social justice” with another, since renouncing the concept means separating “from an entire legacy of political philosophy and theology.” This leads, in his opinion, to those who reject the concept “walking without baggage having a merely reactive policy,” which, in the long run, “makes you very vulnerable.”

Mons. Munilla considers that, by rejecting the concept, with this reactive motivation, one ends up assuming that “there is no duty of solidarity,” even if it exists.

Proof of this, the prelate assures, is that, upon coming to power, Milei has not annulled the entire social system of aid to the weakest, “which means that he is clear that the principle of solidarity is important in life.” .

Social justice in the Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Catechism of the Catholic Church dedicates from point 1928 to point 1948 the subject referred to social justice, recalls the bishop, stating that a society is capable of ensuring it “by seeking conditions that allow associations and individuals to obtain what is due, what is necessary for their dignity, for their development.”

Furthermore, he points out that solidarity is a virtue, “more specifically Christian, not merely Christian, but eminently Christian.”

Javier Milei and abortion

Mons. Munilla then argued that the new political right has “lack of foundations in tradition, in the West” and that secularization has not only reached the left but everyone. Consequently, between a secularized left-wing or right-wing politician, “although it seems like they clash,” in reality, he says, “there is not that much difference in thought between the two.”

An example of this is Milei’s recent statements to the BBC assuring that restricting the abortion law in Argentina is not on his agenda and that “it was not a campaign promise” and that he always complies with what he says.

Mons. Munilla has broadcast on Radio María an audio of Milei himself on the occasion of the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States to reverse the effect of Roe vs. Wade and eliminate the consideration of abortion as a federal right. These were his words:

“Hello, today we are facing a historic day. The United States Supreme Court overturned the right to abortion. And what did he point out? That the right to abortion is not a constitutional right. Do you know why? Because abortion is a murder, a murder aggravated by the bond, a murder qualified by the differential of forces. Fortunately, she regained her livelihood. Let’s follow the example in Argentina. And I, Javier Gerardo Milei, commit that if I am president, I will move forward to end this aberration Abortion Action. Thank you. Long live freedom, damn it! And live life!”

“The lyrics and the music do not go together,” said Mons. Munilla, given the contradiction of statements.

The Bishop has also pointed out as an example of this right without philosophical roots the decision of the former president of the Government of Spain, Mariano Rajoy, of the Popular Party, who included in the 2014 electoral program “that he was going to reform the abortion law downwards.” and how in the end, the minister in charge of drafting the bill had to resign after being disavowed by Rajoy.

Or the most recent of Donald Trump when he assured that the abortion ban proposed by his rival in the Republican Party primaries, Ron DeSantis, “is a terrible mistake.”

Mons. Munilla has highlighted as “curious” that these formations raise the pro-life flag in campaigns, but that, when governing, they do not make coherent decisions.