When I use the term liberalism and liberal, this is what I mean.

Since I often discuss liberalism which undergirds the nature of liberals, I think it might be helpful to define terms and explain exactly what liberalism is. Socrates often began his dialogues by defining terms. How can people have an intelligent discussion if they aren't using words in the same way? They can end up arguing with Humpty Dumpty who says, "When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean- neither more nor less." Unfortunately, many liberals follow Humpty Dumpty's rules of engagement which is a ticket to the Tower of Babel. To use a silly example, suppose an alien landed in Washington, D.C. and someone told him that the first Catholic president, JFK, was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Imagine the confusion going forward. But that's often true when people use language in contrary ways. 

Real Catholics are Conservatives - Just Ask Russell Kirk

I've been reading The Politics of Prudence (published in 1993) by Russell Kirk , a hero of the conservative movement. After the first two chapters I had to find out whether he was a Catholic because his thought is so consistent with Catholic principles. Sure enough, he married and converted to Catholicism in the same year -- 1963 when he was 45. He and his wife, Annette had four daughters. They named their home "Piety Hill" and entertained there often. What an exciting dinner table that must have been. Kirk would not drive or own a television. That no doubt gave him more time to think, write, and enjoy his friends.

I'm a newcomer to Kirk but I don't plan to remain one. He not only wrote books and articles of conservative thought, he also wrote three novels and 22 short stories, particularly in the ghost-story genre. Over the next few days I want to describe Kirk's "Ten Conservative Principles" which could just as easily be described as "Ten Catholic Principles."

In my opinion, to be a Catholic in the public square means to be a Kirk (not a Bush or even a Reagan) conservative. In the political realm Kirk is one bookend for Catholic thought. The other is Fr. Felix Sarda Y Salvany who wrote Liberalism is a Sin. A Catholic would be well advised to position himself between Kirk's and Salvany's principles, embracing authentic conservatism and rejecting the egregious errors of an immoral liberalism.