Socialism is back in style. Is today’s version compatible with Catholic social teaching?
The problem for Dorothy Day, and the Catholic Church, was socialism’s focus on class conflict at the expense of the concrete love of individuals.
Although it feels new to have a socialist mayor in America, it is not unprecedented. Milwaukee has had three different socialist mayors, and socialists won a smattering of city halls in the early 20th century, including in Midwestern cities like Minneapolis and Davenport, Iowa. But the election of Zohran Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, last year in New York City has raised the visibility of candidates who identify as socialist or endorse a socialist agenda. Some, like U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, have notched Democratic primary victories, while Wisconsin’s Francesca Hong fell a bit short in that state’s gubernatorial primary. In general, socialism seems to be a growing force in American politics, with one poll finding that one-third of all Democrats now identify with the label.
