Day 251: Authorities in Society

The authority required by the moral order derives from God: "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. Therefore, he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment."  CCC 1899

In today's reading, the Catechism discusses authorities in society. That is, those to whom Jesus told us to "render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's" (Matt 22:21). We need authorities for human society in order for them to be "well-ordered... prosperous... and care for the good of all" (CCC 1897). In the modern era, the authorities bearing the role of "Caesar" are vastly different than 2,000 years ago. Nevertheless, we are still called to honor them except when doing so would violate God's law. 

The Catechism Compendium gives a summary of when authority is exercised legitimately:

Authority is exercised legitimately when it acts for the common good and employs morally licit means to attain it. Therefore, political regimes must be determined by the free decision of their citizens. They should respect the principle of the “rule of law” in which the law, and not the arbitrary will of some, is sovereign. Unjust laws and measures contrary to the moral order are not binding in conscience. (#406)

What of authorities championing unjust laws? The example of St. Peter and the Apostles gives us an answer that "we must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). 

The Catechism Companion, Vol III comments on this:

Laws cannot go against "right reason" or else they are no law at all but instead are "a kind of violence" (CCC 1902). "Unjust laws" do not need to be followed (CCC 1903). Laws are not good or true simply because the person with power declares them so. They are true or good to the degree that they accord with right reason, are oriented toward the common good, and use a morally lawful way of achieving that good.  (p. 18)