The twentieth century has seen an unexpected rise in religious politics around the world, and some American Catholics have revived a form of illiberalism that would use the power of the state to promulgate their faith. In All the Kingdoms of the World, Kevin Vallier takes these ideas seriously, using Catholic integralism as his primary focus. He recognizes the attraction of such systems, but reveals their limitations with a realistic appraisal of the possibilities of the modern world. Three Law & Liberty reviewers offer their assessment:
What is the proper relationship between the Kingdom of God and the kingdoms of men?
Integralism is unjust, but it captures some important truths.
Some popes probably did affirm integralism, but it is not obviously the political theory most in line with the Catholic tradition.