Need help with a St. Thomas Aquinas Quote

[Hokomai]

I’m not sure that we can simplify the teaching that far, but I think this representation is nearer the mark. Let me try to revise your language into something I think is closer to St. Thomas’s answer:

Quote:
 	 		 			 				Where human **the** propensity **of the baptized **to do bad, as defined by scripture, tradition and the magisterium, can be curtailed by human law **punishments under ecclesiastical or civil law**, it **generally may and often **should be, but **this is not always the best way to achieve this result; for one example, in cases **where this intervention by civil law can bring about greater evil, this can be 'wisely' rejected in favour of other means.

Thank you. That’s most helpful. I think this usefully illustrates the difference between the idea of ‘human rights’ derived from the Enlightenment, the UN Declaration etc, and the Catholic view of rights deriving from natural law, and the ‘purpose’ of people as created beings. We use the same words to mean different things, and this can be the source of much misunderstanding.

 

[mawst]

I’m aware he lived in the 1200’s, but still not right to kill heretics, no matter what. Jesus never said to kill in my name.

20,000+ protestant denominations…, an actual hijacking of Christianity is much better?