Majorities make mistakes, natural law must be the guide of civil society, asserts Pope Benedict

[buffalo]

Majorities make mistakes, natural law must be the guide of civil society, asserts Pope Benedict

Vatican City, Oct 5, 2007 / 09:42 am (CNA).- This morning Pope Benedict XVI spoke with great force about how the study of natural law guarantees freedom and guards the dignity of all people. He also pointed out that contrary to the modern perception, majorities are not always right, but rather, that the natural law should prevail over pluralities as the measure of what is best for the common good.
Speaking to Cardinal William Levada and the rest of the members of the International Theological Commission, who just completed their annual meeting, Benedict XVI pointed out the importance of their study of the natural law.

The doctrine on natural law “achieves two essential aims: it makes it clear that the ethical content of the Christian faith is not an imposition dictated from outside man’s conscience, but has its basis in human nature itself; and on the other hand, by starting from the basis of natural law… it lays the foundations for dialogue with all men and women of good will, and with civil society more generally.”

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[rlg94086]

Our founding fathers, though predominantly anti-Catholic, would have very much applauded this speech. Natural Law was a key foundation for the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Relativism is eroding the principles this country was founded on.

Majorities make mistakes, natural law must be the guide of civil society, asserts Pope Benedict

Vatican City, Oct 5, 2007 / 09:42 am (CNA).- This morning Pope Benedict XVI spoke with great force about how the study of natural law guarantees freedom and guards the dignity of all people. He also pointed out that contrary to the modern perception, majorities are not always right, but rather, that the natural law should prevail over pluralities as the measure of what is best for the common good.
Speaking to Cardinal William Levada and the rest of the members of the International Theological Commission, who just completed their annual meeting, Benedict XVI pointed out the importance of their study of the natural law.

The doctrine on natural law “achieves two essential aims: it makes it clear that the ethical content of the Christian faith is not an imposition dictated from outside man’s conscience, but has its basis in human nature itself; and on the other hand, by starting from the basis of natural law… it lays the foundations for dialogue with all men and women of good will, and with civil society more generally.”

more…

 

[manualman]

But a serious question isn’t answered. In a civil context, who shall determine the dictates of Natural Law? If not the votes of the majority, then who? The Church? A Monarch?

What is the practical implementation of this advice?

Or is this an implicit way of saying that only those societies which predominantly embrace Natural Law can have successful democracies?

 

[OriginalJS]

Our founding fathers, though predominantly anti-Catholic, would have very much applauded this speech. Natural Law was a key foundation for the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Relativism is eroding the principles this country was founded on.

I disagree mildly with the observation that the founding fathers were predominantly anti-Catholic. Most were deists like Thomas Jefferson who rather famously observed that the religion of others was a matter of indifference to him.

Our republic was carefully structured to avoid the “tyranny of the majority” which the Pope seems to be concerned about.

Finally, I don’t know which principles are being eroded by relativism; maybe I don’t adequately understand the concept.

 

[rlg94086]

I disagree mildly with the observation that the founding fathers were predominantly anti-Catholic. Most were deists like Thomas Jefferson who rather famously observed that the religion of others was a matter of indifference to him.

“Most” were not deists. That is a common misconception. Most were non-Catholic Christians, thus my description as being predominantly anti-Catholic. There were some Catholics in the group, there were a lot of anti-papists in the group, and, thankfully, there were enough sane voices who called for the freedom of religious beliefs.
OrigionalJS:

Our republic was carefully structured to avoid the “tyranny of the majority” which the Pope seems to be concerned about.

100% agree, which is why I said our founding fathers would have applauded the pope on this.

OriginalJS:

Finally, I don’t know which principles are being eroded by relativism; maybe I don’t adequately understand the concept.

The specific relativism I refer to is “truth relativism” - the idea that there are no absolute truths and everything is relative to some particular frame of reference (e.g. language, culture). Today, Americans seem to believe that the majority trumps Natrual Law. At least, that is the way I see it.