How do Catholics support a Democracy?

[Genesis315]

what does papal infallibility have to do with, say, building codes, hunting regulations, zoning laws or any traditional government function?

Absolutely nothing–those things are not within the sphere of authority given to Peter to govern the Church. Those are within the sphere of temporal authority bestowed on the state (in Vatican City, the Pope does operate in both spheres, but the charism of infallibility only applies to spiritual sphere, the Church, not the temporal/state).

would papal infallibility permit first amendment freedom of dissent? or freedom of worship for non-Catholics?

Again, papal infallibility has to do with the government of the Church. Dissent may be tolerated in the Church but there is no license for it (heresy and schism are punished by excommunication). To dissent from a truth revealed by God, which is handed down by the successors of Peter and the Apostles with the aid of the Holy Spirit, is a grave sin against faith. It places one’s one limited and fallen wisdom above the perfect and infinite wisdom of God. It is the primordial sin of Satan and will lead humans to a similar fate.

In regards to states and the principles God has given on this subject, it depends on whether or not the common good is harmed. If the common good is harmed by false worship, it can be suppressed. We even see this in America–some examples of religions that have been suppressed are Indian religions that involve hallucinigenic drugs, the Branch Davidians, and most recently the FLDS.

 

[fons_vitae]

I vote constitutional monarchy (if you’ll pardon the wordplay). Wouldn’t that combine the democratic and monarchical elements, so that neither one would predominate (if you have a strong constitutional monarchy, not the relatively weak one in the U.K. and elsewhere) ?

 

[St_Francis]

If most everyone is a good Catholic, any of the acceptable forms of government will work; if few to none are good Catholics, no government will work. It’s not the form but the spirit behind the form which matters.