But that liberality had nothing to do with liberalism; in fact it cannot even now coexist with liberalism [(footnote) I use the word liberalism here in the strictly limited theological sense, in which Newman and other theologians use it. In its popular political sense, as I point out later, St. Thomas rather tended to be a Liberal, especially for his time].
It is important to make this distinction. The word liberal means different things to different people and in different contexts.
The Church is historically politically "liberal" in that it is opposed to laissez-faire capitalism and supportive of social programs.
