My first, and very Catholic, act of civil disobedience

[IdaCatholic]

not really. the plight of people that are uprooted and break laws to flee to safety will never end without real change in other countries. And that might need to be violent at some point. But regardless you and I have different definitions of heroic. Yours applies to anyone who follows a belief or principle that they hold dear. Mine applies to those who fight or speak out for something holy, righteous and good. ISIS believes in a cause and shows every sign you would apply to heroism.

 

[Emeraldlady]

not really. the plight of people that are uprooted and break laws to flee to safety will never end without real change in other countries. And that might need to be violent at some point.

This is the motivation behind Pope Francis recent call “When a supranational common good is clearly identified, there is need for a special legally constituted authority capable of facilitating its implementation.” The Church is committed to ushering change as non violently as possible through diplomacy and other incentives. The United Nations already has secured financial commitment from nations to aid Africa for example, to adopt more humanitarian policies.

But regardless you and I have different definitions of heroic. Yours applies to anyone who follows a belief or principle that they hold dear. Mine applies to those who fight or speak out for something holy, righteous and good. ISIS believes in a cause and shows every sign you would apply to heroism.

Your idea of heroic is purely politically oriented. The fact that you don’t regard these Catholic protesters as heroic, demonstrates that. The fact that you ascribe to Trumpism demonstrates that. Trump of John McCain - “He’s not a war hero. He’s a war hero because he was captured? I like people who weren’t captured.”

So I’m happy to say that I have a different view of heroic than you do.

 

[IdaCatholic]

Sounds like we are both happy. So that’s good.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I don’t know who the Red Rose protesters are. Not really interested in a protracted debate on every kind of protester out there - I responded to the situation in this thread, not about protesters in any other situation - so I am muting the thread now.

 

[HumbleIOughtToBe]

I would assume that had this conversation occurred at a Catholic church, as opposed to Forums.Catholic.Com (average age Boomer (?), average political affiliation Republican, loyalist level to the government Higher than average), it would have been received in a positive manner.

Now on a separate manner, on blocking traffic and entering government buildings. One can not be pro-gun for the proposes of assassinating a corrupt government, while at the same time being against non-gun solutions to protest a malicious government such as road blocking and entering government buildings.

 

[Feanor2]

And what about the March for Life? Is that different?

 

[Horton]

The March for Life is neither civil disobedience or against the law. It is a legal planned event.

 

[ioannes_pius]

Cringe.

10 characters.

 

[Genesis315]

Clearly, from the Catholic perspective, “civil disobedience” is justified when one is disobeying an unjust law. However, in general, is it justified to disobey a just law in order to protest an unrelated unjust law (especially when other means of protest are available)?

(not sure about the case in the OP, but from what I understand many of these kinds of theatrical acts of civil disobedience are worked out with local authorities beforehand, they agree on who will be arrested, etc.–so if one has such cooperation of public authority, it may not really qualify as disobeying public authority, even if technically the desired arrests follow).