Engaging Politics as a Catholic – Dr. Jan Bentz

Jan 21, 2026

Fr. Jan Bentz, a Catholic philosopher and lecturer specializing in Thomism, dives into the intricate relationship between faith and politics. He critiques the current political landscape, emphasizing the perils of utopianism and political cynicism. Bentz outlines five guiding principles for Catholic engagement, advocates for critical thinking, and calls for a both-and approach to political issues. He discusses the role of truth in politics, AI's regulation, and the importance of sanctifying the public sphere with transcendent values.

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ANECDOTE

German Perspective Shapes Examples

Fr. Jan Bentz uses his German background to bring concrete political examples from Germany and the Vatican.
He warns some examples may be too pertinent or not pertinent to the local audience.

INSIGHT

Utopia As A Political Engine

The utopian impulse seeks to construct paradise on earth and fuses religion with politics into a forward-driven project.
This forward-driven utopianism reshaped Western mentality and fuels modern political rhetoric and theory.

ANECDOTE

Joachim Of Fiore And The Golden Age

Fr. Jan Bentz traces Joachim of Fiore's three ages and links his visions to the rise of future-focused utopian projects.
He points out Columbus cited Fiore and that this mentality helped fuel exploration and Renaissance shifts.

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Dr. Jan Bentz explores what it means to engage politics as a Catholic, calling believers to critical thinking rooted in truth, a both‑and logic that resists polarization, and a discerning love of nation that remains ordered to the common good and eternal beatitude.

This lecture was given on November 19th, 2025, at Thomistic Institute in London.

For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events.

About the Speakers:

Dr. Jan C. Bentz was born and raised in Germany and graduated high school in St Louis, Missouri, where he attended as a foreign exchange student. Dr Bentz holds a doctorate in Philosophy from the Roman Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum, a Masters in Sacred Art, Architecture, and Liturgy and a Masters in Church, Ecumenism, and Religious Studies. His dissertation was published in German on Gustav Siewerth (1903-1963) and his work on Thomas Aquinas and G.W.F. Hegel. His fields of expertise include Metaphysics, History of Philosophy, Medieval Philosophy, Thomism, and Philosophy of Art. Dr Bentz lectures at Blackfriars’ Studium on History of Modern and Contemporary Philosophy, Aesthetics, and Philosophy of History. He taught Philosophy of Art (Aesthetics) for The Catholic University of America, Rome Campus, History of Medieval Philosophy at Christendom College, Rome Campus, and Apologetics for IES Study Abroad also in Rome. His journalistic career included the production of weekly TV coverage in German and English for EWTN Global; interviews and commentary for Catholic News Agency, Inside the Vatican; and for The Catholic Herald in English and Jüdische Rundschau in German. His current format is called Reality Check, a series of video interviews also published on YouTube with the European Conservative.

Keywords: Analogy of Being and Politics, Catholic Both-And Logic, Catholic Engagement in Public Life, Christian and Secular Nationalism, Common Good and Beatitude, Critical Thinking as a Catholic, National Identity and Faith, Polarization and Either-Or Thinking, Testing Everything Holding Fast to the Good, Voting as a Catholic Conscience