I am sometimes asked the question, “Is it a sin to break the law?”
The general answer is yes, but there is an important exception.
Civil laws are the ones enacted by the legitimate authorities of our land. As Christians, we have an obligation to follow these laws as good citizens. This is something that comes directly from the Scriptures.
Jesus said of paying taxes, “Render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, but give to God what belongs to God.” (Mark 12:17). In Romans, Paul states, “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 whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. (Romans 13:1-2).
Peter also makes this point: “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors… Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” (1 Peter 2:13-14, 17)
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “The citizen is obliged in conscience not to follow the directives of civil authorities when they are contrary to the demands of the moral order, to the fundamental rights of persons or the teachings of the Gospel. Refusing obedience to civil authorities, when their demands are contrary to those of an upright conscience, finds its justification in the distinction between serving God and serving the political community.” (2242)
Human beings are called to live harmoniously in a society. If we are to live in a nation of laws, then we must bind ourselves to those laws. That is the implicit social contract of a civil society. Therefore, breaking those laws involves a breaking of the social contract on our part. So even small things like jaywalking and littering can be sinful if they break the the laws of our land.
However…
The only reason that the civil law has authority over us is if it is harmony with Natural Law.
Natural Law is the moral law written on our hearts. God gave us reason to discover what is right and what is wrong for human beings. For example, the end or purpose of the human person is to live a good life. But if you murder someone, you are preventing them their natural end. Therefore, murder is wrong. The principle of self-defense also applies here. If you kill someone who is trying to kill you, you are morally justified because that person is trying to obstruct your natural right to live.
We enact civil laws in order to live out the Natural Law.
But if the civil law contradicts the Natural Law, then we are not bound to follow it.
No comments:
Post a Comment