Peace be to you.

Now there actually is such a thing in the world as authoritarianism.

It is communism.

What is the essence of authoritarianism?

Well, I would say it was threefold.

First, it subjects the mind to dogmas.

Two, it makes fear the basis of obedience.

Three, it destroys freedom of thought.

Now, the church has none of these qualities.

It could not have them.

Because remember that our blessed Lord lived in the midst of authoritarianism.

The people among whom he moved were under the power of the Romans.

Furthermore, all of the Pharisees were authoritarian.

So when therefore our blessed Lord founded his church,

naturally, he made it a bulwark against all forms of authoritarianism.

Notice how he even contrasted his church and what would be like into communism?

He said, you know that among the Gentiles those who bear rule, Lord it over them,

and great men want their power over them. But with you, it must be otherwise.

And whoever has a mind to be first among you must be your slave.

Now how did our Lord save us in his church from authoritarianism?

We're going to contrast here the three characteristics of communism with three characteristics of the church.

First, our blessed Lord established a church in which, one,

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