Conspirituality – Bonus Sample: Mark Carney’s Secular Catholicism

Host: Matthew Remski
Date: February 16, 2026

Episode Overview

In this brief bonus episode, Matthew Remski examines the subtle religious underpinnings and ideological contradictions within Mark Carney’s technocratic vision as laid out in his 2022 book, Building a Better World for All. Remski exposes how Carney’s Catholic values and rhetoric of social purpose are woven into a framework that ultimately preserves capitalist structures, using state intervention while denying the failures of market fundamentalism.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing Mark Carney and His Influences

• [00:20] Matthew Remski highlights that Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of England and Bank of Canada, is a “devout Catholic” who frames his worldview in both religious and technocratic terms.
  • “He opens his big 2022 book with an anecdote about receiving a spiritual mission from Pope Francis…” — Matthew Remski [00:26]

2. Carney’s Central Argument: Market Values vs. Human Values

• [00:42] The book’s thesis centers on the tension between market logic and deeper human or societal values.
  • Carney critiques how modern society has let market values override human values.
  • He references Marxist economics — surplus labor value, instability, and monopolistic tendencies — but ultimately rejects socialism as irredeemable.

3. Proposed Solution: Purpose-Driven, Value-Informed Capitalism

• [01:20] Carney proposes reforming capitalism through:
  • Socially-grounded markets built on solidarity, responsibility, and resilience.
  • Purpose-driven approach: companies and governments should prioritize long-term goals like climate initiatives, sustainability, and equity, rather than short-term profits.
• However, Remski labels Carney’s solution as “standard capitalist exceptionalism”, pointing out that Carney:
  • Praises market mechanisms (invoking Adam Smith’s "invisible hand").
  • Echoes Fukuyama’s “end of history” idea that capitalism triumphed over socialism after the Cold War.
  • Denies that managed economies can foster innovation or creativity.

4. Carney’s Contradiction: Planning Without Calling It Planning

• [02:27] Although Carney insists on markets and voluntary cooperation, his proposals rely on significant state intervention:
  • Legal reforms, mandatory disclosure/reporting, and new financial incentives.
  • “He admits that a purpose driven economy cannot be achieved through voluntary corporate social responsibility alone.” — Remski [02:30]
  • The state sets goals (like net zero climate targets) and uses “regulatory and fiscal levers” to guide the market.

5. Underlying Premise and Rhetorical Maneuvering

• [03:00] Carney’s approach stresses collective responsibility and the idea that “we’re all in this together”.
  • Remski notes that this rhetoric seeks to “dispel any possibility that capitalism in any form foments class conflict,” despite not directly addressing that tension.
  • Emphasizes the erosion of the social contract in wealthy nations due to market fundamentalism.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Carney’s Catholic Spiritual Motive:

  • “He opens his big 2022 book with an anecdote about receiving a spiritual mission from Pope Francis.”
    — Matthew Remski [00:26]

• On Carney’s Solution:

  • “Markets are social constructs that must be grounded in solidarity, responsibility, and resilience to effectively serve the public good.”
    — Matthew Remski [01:36]

• On Contradictions in Carney’s Approach:

  • “He admits that a purpose driven economy cannot be achieved through voluntary corporate social responsibility alone.”
    — Matthew Remski [02:30]
  • “Now this is not new. I think one of the main purposes of it is to dispel any possibility that capitalism in any form foments class conflict.”
    — Matthew Remski [03:13]

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:03 — Introduction: Framing Carney in context of the podcast’s anti-conspirituality mission
• 00:26 — Carney’s religious background and Pope Francis anecdote
• 00:42 — Market values vs. human values; references to Marx and critique of socialism
• 01:20 — Carney’s purpose-driven capitalism and aspirational solutions
• 02:27 — The contradiction of state intervention masquerading as market guidance
• 03:00 — Analysis of Carney’s rhetoric and its deeper function

Language & Tone

Remski’s delivery is measured, analytical, and slightly sardonic, especially when noting the “unoriginal” nature of Carney’s observations and the contradictions in his rhetoric. The language remains accessible to a general audience but is also clearly aimed at listeners with a critical or academic interest in the intersection of economic ideology, spirituality, and cultic power dynamics.

Summary Takeaway

Matthew Remski uses this short episode to dissect how Mark Carney’s superficially progressive vision for capitalism is rooted in both Catholic and technocratic principles, but ultimately fails to address the inherent problems of class conflict and market fundamentalism. Instead, Carney repackages state intervention as purpose-driven market guidance while preserving the status quo, exemplifying how technocratic elites use spiritual and humanitarian language to bolster existing power structures.