Lord of the World - What?

[1catholic]

I read Robert Hugh Benson's Lord of the World a few months ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. I saw a lot of predictions that seemed, although (even benson admits) maybe exaggerated, well aligned with modern social progressions.

if you haven't read it here are some summaries:
http://www.catholicity.com/commentary/schall/05553.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_of_the_World


So although I'm recommending the book, some issues popped up to me while I read it and these are my questions:

1) capital punishment for adultery in the Catholic controlled city... why? This doesn't seem to fit with church social teaching, maybe I'm wrong. (yes i know not all capital punishment is frowned on)

2)Why would the Catholic country be filthy - maybe i was misinterpreting Benson's meaning...but isn't cleanliness next to godliness

3)Why is no focus made on conversion and healing for those outside the church. It felt like a total rejection of outsiders by the higherups of the noncatholics outside. (see #2 - why would ppl be attracted to a church which seems to be living in filth when they could keep things clean - maybe, again, I'm misinterpreting)

4)finally, why the rotation cycle for living in the church state/why are catholics who try to remain close frowned upon

Thanks again

[Shin]

Ah, it's been so long since I read this I don't remember it at all except the vast feeling of emptiness that seemed to accompany it.

But I can say that capital punishment for adultery is quite in line with Catholic teaching, basically any capital sin that causes grave moral damage to society can be punished that way. The deterrence value towards others as well as it being just punishment could be considered to outweigh other mitigating factors.

I.E. the soul being more important than the body. Widespread adultery is more harmful than very limited adultery w/capital punishment. And adultery is such a plague on mankind naturally strong measures are necessary to quash it. Hell can't be compared to death in any harm ration, one is forever, the other only happens briefly. Adultery leads to Hell, so..

Don't know why it was filthy, but cleanliness isn't quite next to Godliness, no.

Don't know to the rest.