Presentation Transcript

1. Law

   Eternal Law Natural law Civil law
2. Purpose of Laws Law is a reasonable requirement of the legitimate authority to protect human dignity and social order God knows what is good and evil and He warns us by a precept or law Moral good and evil come from the nature of things. Moral good are acts that correspond to our nature. Moral evil acts deviate from our nature.
3. Definition of Law An ordinance of reason for the common good, made by those in charge of the community Ordinance of Reason Must be reasonable Protect objective values Can not be too complex to be understood and followed The U.S. Tax code Obamacare’s thousands of pages of regulations The endless regulations of the EPA At present there are 1 million restrictions in federal law For Common Good Not made just to help certain individuals or groups but applied equally to all Should benefit all in some way even if it requires greater sacrifice from certain individuals Example: Eminent Domain allows government to buy property necessary for the common good for a fair price even if the owner does not want to sell.
4. Definition of Law An ordinance of reason for the common good, made by those in charge of the community Made by legitimate authority Can not be vigilante law, or law of the local mob or gang, etc Are all the laws made by unelected bureaucrats in the different government agencies in Washington D.C. made by a legitimate authority? Officially promulgated (announced/published) People can not be responsible to follow laws that are secret or unknown because they are so ancient or buried in too much legislation, etc.
5. Eternal Law The Plan of Divine Wisdom as directing all acts and movements The cosmic order established by God Things just didn’t and don’t happen out of chance Divine Law is Primordial – it should be the foundation for all other laws Divine Law is intrinsic – this law correspondsto the nature of what it governs (planets, animals, humans) Divine Law is universal – it applies to every creature, it facilitates and establishes order
6. Moral Law Natural Law Is nothing other than the rational creature’s participation in the eternal law NL is the EL written in the heart of every man, as it applies to human life Qualities of Natural Law Universality: applies to all Immutability: does not change with time, cultures, or individual beliefs and circumstances
7. Positive Law Civil Positive Law: is legislated by a legitimate government….(ex: local, state, federal) Traffic or tax laws Ecclesiastical Positive Law: is legislated by the power of the Church…..found in Canon Law Fasting during lent, marriage laws Divine Positive Law: Legislated by God Ten Commandments and Jesus’ Law of love of neighbor
8. Evangelical or New Law By our baptism we become partakers of the Divine nature of God New Law is called a law of love because it makes us act out of love infused by the Holy Spirit New Law is called a law of freedom because it sets us free from the ritual observance of the Old Law New Law is called a law of grace because it confers the strength of grace to act by means of faith and sacraments
9. Just Civil Laws A just law is one that corresponds to the Natural Law A just law must fulfill the requirements of law Ordinance of reason For the common good Seek the good of all members of society Burden of law is shared by all who have ability Made by legitimate authority Be officially promulgated All man-made law is a share in God’s authority No human authority can declare what is morally evil to be morally good
10. Unjust Law Human laws that contradict or fail to conform to Divine or Natural Law are unjust. Such laws are never binding on an individual’s conscience. We are bound by our conscience to resist any law that forces us to violate the Natural Law Prudence must be used to determine how to resist laws that permit violations of the Natural Law