Natural Law

August 4th, Natural Law

“Pope Francis: “Let us look to the example of the Good Samaritan. Jesus’ parable summons us to rediscover our vocation as citizens of our respective nations and of the entire world, builders of a new social bond (Fratelli Tutti, 66).  

According to St. Thomas, the natural law is "nothing else than the rational creature's participation in the eternal law" (I-II.91.2) The eternal law is God's wisdom, inasmuch as it is the directive norm of all movement and action. When God willed to give existence to creatures, He willed to ordain and direct them to an end.

In Romans Paul explains this clearly saying that they prove that “what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them” before God (Rom. 2:14-16).

“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” (Rom. 13:1)

“One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. disobeyed Jim Crow laws

“Human life is sacred. The dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society” (Faithful Citizenship, no. 44)

“Every human being has a right to life, the fundamental right that makes all other rights possible, and a right to access those things required for human decency—food and shelter, education and employment, health care and housing, freedom of religion and family life” (Faithful Citizenship, 49)

I encourage you to watch our video on Natural Law here: https://youtu.be/qj1EwfAXuII