I receive far more books from publishers than I can ever read and review here at the Catholic Report. So it is rare, that have I reviewed a book which I have purchased. Jonah Goldberg’s Liberal Fascism is that rare case. I have always been impressed with Goldberg’s writing. This book only adds to my high opinion of him. Goldberg takes on the arduous task of tracing the current political trends, among the secular left, which often hints at traces, if not full blown evidence of contempt for traditional beliefs in organized religion.

In Liberal Fascism, Goldberg looks at the beginning of the Nazi movement in Germany and the Fascist movement in Italy. He finds a host of anti-religious societal outcasts, who through sheer determination weave their way through a series of fortuitous events (fortuitous for them, disastrous for us) which leads to their taking the reins of power. This culminates into a disaster not only for their nations but the entire world. The effects of which still haunt us today.

There is so much to write about in this review. However, I will limit myself to the modern implications for religion, especially Catholicism. How many times have we heard that Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini were Catholic-Christians who dutifully went to Church, implying of course that the Church bears some guilt for their murderous rampage? Actually, the entire premise is wrong. Both Hitler and Mussolini detested Catholicism, even from an early age. Goldberg reminds us that Mussolini’s parents were avowed revolutionaries who named Benito after the Mexican revolutionary Benito Juarez. By the age of 10 young Benito Mussolini engaged in outbursts at Mass, the few times he went.

Goldberg’s research shows us that during the early days of the Third Reich children involved in Nazi youth programs were told to sing songs that not only mocked the Church and her leaders but also its teachings and sacraments. We see the writings of early Nazis lamenting the Early Church missionaries who stripped pagan Germany of her “grandeur.” Yet for years western institutions have taught that Hitler & Mussolini emerged primarily because of the Church. Goldberg demonstrates there could be nothing further from the truth.

Do you wonder where the modern fascination with New Age came from, or from where the whole DaVinci Code conspiracy theories emanated? Look no further than Hitler’s henchman for the answers. What about radical environmentalism and the government push for green technology? Again look to 1930s Berlin.

With my book, The Tide Is Turning Toward Catholicism, I have personal experience in trying to convince a world whose mind seems to be made up that Catholicism is declining, when in actuality it is not. Because of my experience, I have the utmost respect for Goldberg who tries to convince us that there is such a thing as “Liberal Fascism.” Goldberg takes us through a perilous journey that looks all too real. The teachings of the Church belittled priests and bishops mocked, the faithful laity ridiculed. It sounds a lot like a few cosmopolitan cities in 2008. However, Goldberg shows us this was well under way in some European cities in 1938. Like 1938 it seems that in 2008 the world looks on and pretends that attacks on the faithful and those nations who would do us harm are simply misunderstood. Goldberg shows us that in 1938 the purveyors of hate and terror were not misunderstood, but rather underestimated. Suddenly 2008 and 1938 don’t seem so far apart.