Exploring Catholic Social Teaching

11 Can you think of other examples
in which a Catholic must
break the law for the sake of
conscience? Accept reasoned
responses that invoke governmental
policies that force people to commit
or condone moral wrongs.
12 Why must an objector face
the consequences of his or
her choice? An objector can
demonstrate resistance to a
particular law while still showing
reverence for the rule of law through
accepting the consequences of
violating the law. This can be a
powerful witness to the Faith.
13 Identify saints who were
persecuted or martyred for their
refusal to follow unjust laws
or authorities. Accept reasoned
responses. Early Christians were
martyred for refusing to abandon
the Faith for pagan practices and
emperor worship. Others might
include St. John Nepomucene,
who was martyred for refusing to
violate the seal of the confessional.
See also St. Thomas More or the
Nagasaki Martyrs.
182 Exploring Catholic Social Teaching
Vocabulary
Civil Disobedience (n.):
The refusal to obey civil
laws or demands and
the willingness to accept
punishment for this
disobedience, as a form
of nonviolent protest.
Commutative Justice
(n.): The regulation
of exchange between
persons and between
institutions in accordance
with a strict respect
for their rights. It
obligates both parties to
responsibility, requires
safeguarding of property
rights, paying debts, and
fulfi lling obligations freely
contracted. Without it, no
other form of justice is
possible.
Contract (n.): A legally
binding agreement
between two or more
parties that can be
dissolved once the
conditions of the
agreement have been
fulfi lled (or not) or upon
mutual agreement.
Christ on the Cross is
our perfect model
and example in times
when we face the
earthly challenges of
Christian discipleship.
law may differ, and if they ever contradict, we have to follow God’s law. St.
Peter gave us a model for civil disobedience when he refused to obey the
Jewish leaders after they ordered him to stop preaching in the name of Jesus.
Peter declared, “We must obey God rather than men” ( Acts 5:29). We
see examples of this today when a soldier chooses not to carry out an order
that kills innocent or civilian populations, or when a doctor refuses to kill an
unborn baby even if a local law says he must perform abortions. However,
with the obligation to disobey unjust laws comes the accompanying need
to submit to any punishment for that disobedience. This duty, which Christ
models for us perfectly on the Cross, may have the effect of shocking the
conscience of observers and may help bring about the repeal of unjust laws.
Whether or not our disobedience has this effect, this demand of the Church
is one of the harder but undeniable truths of Christian discipleship.
Commutative Justice
The next kind of justice is commutative justice. This form of justice is
common in the marketplace, where people enter into contractual agreements
with each other. “Contracts are subject to commutative justice
which regulates exchanges between persons and between institutions
in accordance with a strict respect for their rights” ( CCC 2411).
Christ on the Cross between Mary and St. John by Albrecht Altdorfer (ca. 1512).
© Sophia Institute for Teachers
152 Exploring Catholic Social Teaching
© Sophia Institute for Teachers