Every human community needs a legitimate authority that preserves order and contributes to the realization of the common good. The foundation of such authority lies in human nature because it corresponds to the order established by God.
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Paragraph 1897
1897. "Human society can be neither well-ordered nor prosperous unless it has some people invested with legitimate authority to preserve its institutions and to devote themselves as far as is necessary to work and care for the good of all."15
By "authority" one means the quality by virtue of which persons or institutions make laws and give orders to men and expect obedience from them.
Paragraph 1898
1898. Every human community needs an authority to govern it.16 The foundation of such authority lies in human nature. It is necessary for the unity of the state. Its role is to ensure as far as possible the common good of the society.
Paragraph 1899
1899. 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."17
Paragraph 1900
1900. The duty of obedience requires all to give due honor to authority and to treat those who are charged to exercise it with respect, and, insofar as it is deserved, with gratitude and good-will.
Pope St. Clement of Rome provides the Church's most ancient prayer for political authorities:18 "Grant to them, Lord, health, peace, concord, and stability, so that they may exercise without offense the sovereignty that you have given them. Master, heavenly King of the ages, you give glory, honor, and power over the things of earth to the sons of men. Direct, Lord, their counsel, following what is pleasing and acceptable in your sight, so that by exercising with devotion and in peace and gentleness the power that you have given to them, they may find favor with you."19
Paragraph 1901
1901. If authority belongs to the order established by God, "the choice of the political regime and the appointment of rulers are left to the free decision of the citizens."20
The diversity of political regimes is morally acceptable, provided they serve the legitimate good of the communities that adopt them. Regimes whose nature is contrary to the natural law, to the public order, and to the fundamental rights of persons cannot achieve the common good of the nations on which they have been imposed.
Paragraph 1902
1902. Authority does not derive its moral legitimacy from itself. It must not behave in a despotic manner, but must act for the common good as a "moral force based on freedom and a sense of responsibility":21
A human law has the character of law to the extent that it accords with right reason, and thus derives from the eternal law. Insofar as it falls short of right reason it is said to be an unjust law, and thus has not so much the nature of law as of a kind of violence.22
Paragraph 1918
1918. "There is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God" (Rom 13:1).
Paragraph 1919
1919. Every human community needs an authority in order to endure and develop.
Paragraph 1920
1920. "The political community and public authority are based on human nature and therefore . . . belong to an order established by God" (GS 74 # 3).
Acesse nossos estudos biblicos:
Christ’s Return: What Do We Know and What Do We Hope (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12)?
What is the story of Abimelech and forgiveness in Judges 9:22-57?
What is the teaching on leading humble servants in 3 John 1:1-4?
What did Jesus teach about loving your neighbor? (Matthew 22:39)
What is the church’s role in promoting reconciliation according to Philemon 1:6?
How does the story of Rich and Lazarus warn us about the consequences of greed? (Luke 16:19-31)
