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Author Topic: What are the limits of our obedience to the legitimate government?  (Read 1095 times)

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Offline forlorn

What are the limits of our obedience to the legitimate government?
« on: October 07, 2018, 04:49:41 PM »
I'm not referring to the US government here, just hypothetically speaking. My Catechism says we are to generally obey our government and its laws(render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and what not), but there have been times in history when the Catholic Church openly supported rebellious movements against the governments of various countries(best example I can think of right now is General Franco, may he rest in peace). So what are the requirements for disobedience and even rebellion to not be sinful? 
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Offline rosenley

Re: What are the limits of our obedience to the legitimate government?
« Reply #1 on: October 07, 2018, 06:53:21 PM »
I have no formal education on the topic, but I hope I can provide an adequate answer.

St. Augustine famously said "lex iniusta non est lex," or, "an unjust law is no law at all." But, that still begs the question, What is an unjust law? According to Aquinas, an unjust law is any human law that isn't rooted in or contradicts natural law or divine law (Eternal law). Human law is any positive law made by man and possesses dual potentiality for legality and illegality. Illegal human laws are synonymous with unjust laws. However, all unjust laws don't have to be human laws.

Unjust laws, however, must be opposed openly, and the punishment for the said law must be accepted graciously.
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Offline forlorn

Re: What are the limits of our obedience to the legitimate government?
« Reply #2 on: October 08, 2018, 02:15:41 PM »
Quote from: rosenley on October 07, 2018, 06:53:21 PM
I have no formal education on the topic, but I hope I can provide an adequate answer.

St. Augustine famously said "lex iniusta non est lex," or, "an unjust law is no law at all." But, that still begs the question, What is an unjust law? According to Aquinas, an unjust law is any human law that isn't rooted in or contradicts natural law or divine law (Eternal law). Human law is any positive law made by man and possesses dual potentiality for legality and illegality. Illegal human laws are synonymous with unjust laws. However, all unjust laws don't have to be human laws.

Unjust laws, however, must be opposed openly, and the punishment for the said law must be accepted graciously.
Thank you very much. 
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Offline 800 Cruiser

Re: What are the limits of our obedience to the legitimate government?
« Reply #3 on: October 08, 2018, 03:28:49 PM »
Are you aware of any unjust laws that we must openly oppose?
What if by doing so it takes us (men) away from fulfilling our roles as fathers?
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Offline Cera

Re: What are the limits of our obedience to the legitimate government?
« Reply #4 on: October 08, 2018, 06:20:10 PM »
Quote from: 800 Cruiser on October 08, 2018, 03:28:49 PM
Are you aware of any unjust laws that we must openly oppose?
What if by doing so it takes us (men) away from fulfilling our roles as fathers?
A law which permits the killing of innocent babies in the womb is an unjust law. Openly opposing it can be as simple as a weekly rosary in front of an abortion place.
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