Religion & Law

Joe Carter posted, at First Things, this "tentative manifesto" a few weeks ago.  (Aside:  "tentative" and "manifesto" don't seem to me to go together very well.)  After noting all the different versions and variations of "conservatism", he sets things up with this: 

The institution most essential to conserve is the family.  

I believe that while ultimate sovereignty belongs to God alone, He delegates authority throughout society to various institutional structures (churches, businesses, the state, etc.). Naturally, these institutions are not immune to the effects of sin or human depravity but they still retain the legitimate authority given to them by our Creator. Although each of these institutions is important, the most essential is the family. My political philosophy could be called ?family-first conservatism? for I believe that, in our current time and place within Western history, the institution of the family should be given pride of place in decisions about public policy.

Carter's "manifesto" is intended, it seems to me, as a Burkean corrective to the libertarian-individualistic version of conservatism that is, these days, quite popular.  The comments to Carter's post are also worth reading.

Check it out, whether you are "conservative" or not.  To what extent does the "manifesto" track or echo Catholic Social Teaching?