Secular law vs Church law

  • Thread starter Thread starter AngelaMarie
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

AngelaMarie

Guest
Is the church required to follow the laws of the land?

The reason I ask the ruling handed down this week about Sheen’s remains being transferred.

That specific issue aside, it does have me thinking in much bigger and broader terms. Can the courts prevail upon a church and force it to comply with it’s rulings?
 
Yes.

See the Australia Seal of Confession/Child Sex Abuse case for a prime example
 
A bad example IMO. The Church in that case is morally required to uphold the seal of Confession.

On other things though yes, she should hold herself to the law of the land.
 
AngelaMarie said:
Is the church required to follow the laws of the land?

The reason I ask the ruling handed down this week about Sheen’s remains being transferred.

That specific issue aside, it does have me thinking in much bigger and broader terms. Can the courts prevail upon a church and force it to comply with it’s rulings?
Click to expand...
The Church must follow the laws of the land as long as those laws do not break God’s laws.

For example, if the law tried to force Catholic hospitals to do abortions: we have to refuse or close the doors. If Catholic pregnancy centers were required by law to inform women about abortions, we have to refuse or close the doors.

If the church became outlawed, then priests would need to sneak around to preform mass.

If the law requires priests to break the seal of confession, then the priest must refuse, even if it means jail or even death.

But in general, the Church must obey the laws of the land. But if it breaks the moral law, then no.
 
Last edited:
There is no answer to your question. By its nature, secular laws are different in every jurisdiction. Your question can only be answered on a specific case by case analysis. Even then there is confusion that often requires a court to analyze different competing principles.
 
Defiance is acceptable if the need arises.
they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” […] Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. -Acts 5:18-20, 29
Click to expand...
Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? […] But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” -Daniel 3:13-18
Click to expand...
 
Note that the court decision on Fulton Sheen’s remains was a civil suit, not a matter of criminal law. The court sided with Bishop Sheen’s niece, who wants to move his casket to Peoria, and against the NY Archdiocese, which wants to retain it. The Archdiocese can appeal the court decision, but will ultimately have to obey.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top