Exploring Catholic Social Teaching
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Handout C: What Is Right vs. What Is Legal<br />
Accept well researched and reasoned answers.<br />
Handout D: Government, Obedience, and Persecution<br />
1. Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.<br />
2. Christian conduct is meek, merciful, peace-making. Christians are poor in spirit, hunger for<br />
justice and righteousness, and will be persecuted for the sake of Jesus Christ.<br />
3. From God.<br />
4. No, because God’s law is a higher authority than any human authority.<br />
5. There may be laws passed by men which are unjust. But they would not be binding on<br />
conscience. In other words, they would not truly be the law.<br />
6. St. Thomas More died rather than disobey God.<br />
7. No. Only laws that are truly unjust should not be obeyed.<br />
8. In our creation in the image and likeness of God.<br />
9. As free and responsible beings.<br />
10. The human person.<br />
11. The common good is promoted when public authorities respect the fundamental and<br />
inalienable rights of the human person as well as the social well-being and development of the<br />
group, and there is peace.<br />
12. Accept reasoned answers.<br />
13. An upright conscience is formed according to God’s law.<br />
14. When their directives are contrary to the demands of the moral order, to the fundamental<br />
rights of persons or the teachings of the Gospel.<br />
15. Refusing to obey an unjust law is a personal act. Actively resisting the government may include<br />
public acts of civil disobedience, organized protests, and armed resistance. This Catechism<br />
excerpt discusses the former.<br />
16. The legal and social consequences of his actions.<br />
Final Question: Accept reasoned answers.<br />
EXPLORING CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING, lesson 10<br />
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