doing evil so good may come?

[RPRPsych]

And does mass murder square with Catholic Social teaching?

Ouch. You have me there.

Ends do not justify the means. The fact that he tried to create a ‘Catholic republic’, does not in any way lessen his crimes. Using evil to try to create a ‘Catholic republic’ is in itself quite despicable as this evil was done in our name, unlike Pinochet’s evil which was done in his own name. You could argue that the fact that Franco did it ‘in our name’ makes it even worse.

I think that last statement is a very good one. And extending that argument further: if it was truly “of God”, it would have endured - whereas the history of Spain post-Franco tells us that it didn’t quite succeed. I think I’ll have to concede your argument on this issue, and remember that “one who seeks to execute justice by violence is like a eunuch trying to violate a maiden” (Sirach 20: 2)

 

[Chayla]

Very common example: Lying to your employer, so you can remain employed/not lose your job.

 

[Brendan_64]

Very common example: Lying to your employer, so you can remain employed/not lose your job.

I would agree with you, but the culpability could be substantially lowered for the person lying if their employer had been putting them under undue pressure and stress. There are a lot of employers out there who use bullying as a tool to ‘manage’ their staff.

 

[marymary1975]

And does mass murder square with Catholic Social teaching?

Ends do not justify the means. The fact that he tried to create a ‘Catholic republic’, does not in away lessen his crimes. Using evil to try to create a ‘Catholic republic’ is in itself quite despicable as this evil was done in our name, unlike Pinochet’s evil which was done in his own name. You could argue that the fact that Franco did it ‘in our name’ makes it even worse.

I have to agree with you. At least Pinochet was implicitly trying to keep a catholic republic and his evil was done in his name. There are many allegations of his favoring the church butabecause it was always in his name the damage was not that bad. Franco did it in the name of the church which caused the departure of 90% of spaniard catholics from the church.