Of course not, because the teachings of our Church specifically state that if a law is “contrary to the demands of the moral order, to the fundamental rights of persons or the teachings of the Gospel” then we ought not to follow that law. That quotation of mine is from the Catechism (CCC2242).
And as for governments deriving the authority to rule from God, that is also the teaching of our Church. Romans 13:1 " Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God."
Our Church is very clear, all authority comes from God. Therefore to disobey authority is to go against God’s authority. However if, as stated in CCC2242 a law is “contrary to the demands of the moral order, to the fundamental rights of persons or the teachings of the Gospel” then we ought not to follow that law (as that law would be outside of the limits of Natural Law and the Law of the Gospel).
Some people may not like it but, according to the Church, governments derive their authority to rule from God, not from the people, and we are obliged to obey the laws they pass, unless these laws are outside of the limits of of Natural Law and the Law of the Gospel.
This teaching would not have been so much of an issue in the past, but today’s views of individualism and anti-authoritarianism have become so ingrained that people somehow see it as an infringement of their ‘rights’ to have to submit to authority, instead people see themselves as the source of authority. These views have their roots in the ideals of the Enlightenment, not the Gospel.
Dear Brendan64,
Cordial greetings and a very good day. Jolly good to see a fellow British resident on these boards.
Hear, hear to all of that, dear friend. The bolded paragraph is especially bang on target.
Indeed, dear friend, individualism and anti-authoritarianism are major problems that blight our present age. Men take great pride in wanting to challenge almost everything and seem to take some perverse delight in holding the values and traditions of the past up to scorn. There is an assumption that new ideas and insights must always be true and infinitely superior, simply because they are new ideas and insights. Oftentimes this is nothing more than a cloak for rebellion against all that is considered to be old and therefore worthless. Sometimes it is a lame excuse for Catholics who have adopted a hand in hand with the world type of religious profession which dislikes the arduous demands of our most holy faith.
What is sometimes contemptuously referred to as the ‘old order’ once made America and Great Britain a living force in the world, but now it is held up to derision by modern man and pundits of all sorts. However, dear friend, what does modern man have that is truly noble and worthy to replace the old order and old values? Our politicians and radical types vociferously speak about freedom of choice and being liberated from supposed outmoded ideas, but men will not remain free for long unless they learn from the past and humbly receive its wisdom. The urgent need of the hour is surely for men to again learn something of proper discipline - the habit of obedience; how to give orders and how to take them. Alas, today we are witnessing rank insubordination by
all classes of society, but especially the youth who think it jolly smart to challenge parental authority and deride values and traditions that have stood the test of time. This is a sad consequence of Enlightenment ideology and the freethinking of the permissive Sixties. This revolt against authority and the past does not, I say, bode well for future generations and should be denounced in the strongest terms.
As Catholics, dear friend, it is imperative that we set a worthy example, especially to our youth, and be true to honour, duty, moderation and decency, for the days are dark and evil. Let us ignore the smears of the cynics and moral relativists - even the Catholic ones. We need now more than at any other time the great noble traditions of the past and a manly authentic Catholicism that values the extrinsic tradition of Holy Mother Church throughout the ages. If we look around us today what do we see? Violence, rebellion, vulgarity and increasing moral and cultural deterioration. Let men not arrogantly refuse to consult the true standard of antiquity, for only a complete and utter fool would reject long usage and the good old tried and trusted ways of the past. These have stood the test of time and always will, regardless of the unrelenting attack of evil forces contrary to the cause of good. Of course we cannot be guided soley by antiquity, but neither can we make true progress by ignoring it or holding it up to ridicule.
My plea, dear friend, is for men to humble themselves and not fear to enquire of a former age, for they might just learn of the true way of godliness and righteousness. This has always been the way that God has owned and blessed and in which men have always prospered - “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls”. Let us take heed to this wise counsel and not rebel by saying “We will not walk therein” (see Jer. 6: 16).
God bless.
Warmest good wishes,
Portrait
In Christos
