Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 377 – Part II.

YOUCAT Question n. 377 – Part II. When must we refuse to obey the State?

(Youcat answer - repeated) No one may follow orders from the State that violate God’s laws.    

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 2244) Every institution is inspired, at least implicitly, by a vision of man and his destiny, from which it derives the point of reference for its judgment, its hierarchy of values, its line of conduct. Most societies have formed their institutions in the recognition of a certain preeminence of man over things. Only the divinely revealed religion has clearly recognized man's origin and destiny in God, the Creator and Redeemer. The Church invites political authorities to measure their judgments and decisions against this inspired truth about God and man: Societies not recognizing this vision or rejecting it in the name of their independence from God are brought to seek their criteria and goal in themselves or to borrow them from some ideology. Since they do not admit that one can defend an objective criterion of good and evil, they arrogate to themselves an explicit or implicit totalitarian power over man and his destiny, as history shows  (Cf. CA 45; 46).      

Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) It was Peter who called us to practice only a relative obedience toward the State when he said, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). If a State should establish laws and procedures that are racist, sexist, or destructive of human life, a Christian is obliged in conscience to refuse to obey, to refrain from participation, and to offer resistance.

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 2257) Every society's judgments and conduct reflect a vision of man and his destiny. Without the light the Gospel sheds on God and man, societies easily become totalitarian.    

(This question: When must we refuse to obey the State? is continued)