Romans 13, 1-7
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour.
As St Paul's words stand, when Catholics are subjected to evil government, whether elected, imposed from within, or imposed by an invader, any physical resistance such as insurrection, lying, sabotage, or assassination, is , if I have understood him correctly, to be condemned.
So there go my heroes, Bonnie Prince Charlie, King Alfred, John Brown, General Fieldorf-Nil, and a host of others, condemned for resisting "God's (if not annointed) appointed" rulers.
If anyone can suggest some resolution of this problem, I shall be very happy.
So there go my heroes, Bonnie Prince Charlie, King Alfred, John Brown, General Fieldorf-Nil, and a host of others, condemned for resisting "God's (if not annointed) appointed" rulers.
If anyone can suggest some resolution of this problem, I shall be very happy.
4 comments:
I wouldn't worry too much about this. A government can be so unjust that it ceases to be a government. Recall the Maccabees who fought a just war against Greek tyrants.
Of the men you mention, I would say that only John Brown committed a real act of treason. Brown had good intentions, but in my opinion, he was a terrorist.
I thought you might prefer something venerable (rather than more modern, like Liberation Theology ;-)) which develops this theory and gives an example.
Leo XIII Quod apostolici muneris 28 December 1878
And if at any time it happen that the power of the State is rashly and tyrannically wielded by princes, the teaching of the Catholic Church does not allow insurrection on private authority against them, lest public order be only the more disturbed and lest society take greater hurt therefrom. And when affairs come to such a pass that there is no other hope of safety, she teaches that relief may be hastened by the merits of Christian patience and by eamest prayers to God.
But, if the will of legislators and princes shall have sanctioned or commanded anything repugnant to the divine or natural law, the dignity and duty of the Christian name, as well as the judgment of the apostle, urge that "we must obey God rather than men" [Acts 5:29] ...
But Catholic wisdom, sustained by the precepts of natural and divine law, provides with special care for public and private tranquiliry in its doctrines and teachings regarding the duty of government and the distribution of the goods that are necessary for life and use. For, while the socialists would destroy the "right" of property, alleging it to be a human invention altogether opposed to the inborn equality of man, and, claiming a community of goods, argue that poverty should not be peaceably endured and that the property and privileges of the rich may be rightly invaded, the Church, with much greater wisdom and good sense, recognizes the inequality among men, who are born with different powers of body and mind, inequality in actual possession, also and holds that the right of property and of ownership, which springs from nature itself, must not be touched and stands inviolate. For she knows that stealing and robbery were forbidden in so special a manner by God, the Author and Defender of right, that he would not allow man even to desire what belonged to another and that thieves and despoilers, no less than adulterers and idolaters, are shut out from the kingdom of heaven [cf. 1 Cor 6:9f]
Patrick - thank you, and I agree with you, except for the point about John Brown, whose 'terrorism' was, in my view, entirely justified.
Ttony - you are right, provided (in my opinion) that the property or wealth was justly acquired, as so much of it is not.
You probably know this old story.
A small poor boy is picking up conkers in the gateway of an aristocrat's house, and is challenged by the equally small son of the house, "Get off my land!"
"It's not yours, but your father's."
"It will be mine when he dies."
"And where did he get it from?"
"His father."
"And where did his father's father's father's father's (etc.) father get it from?"
"He fought for it."
"All right! I'll fight you for it!"
Reply from Fr Angel (Tumblr):
If you understand the context in which St. Paul is writing, you will understand that ancient peoples could rarely count on long periods of stability in government, and law and order. They never knew when they might be attacked and killed on the highway, or suffer a home invasion and be left for dead after a robbery.
The Roman government provided swift justice, if brutal, and due process of law in a highly advanced court system. St. Paul, being a Roman citizen, is stating that when government is doing its job of provided law and order for the flourishing of its citizens, then it is acting in the place of God’s authority and should be obeyed for the common good of society.
Even if this verse were a later form of editing and were not written by St. Paul, that would be irrelevant for the Church, for the words were confirmed as part of canonical and divinely inspired text.
However, you made a leap from confirming the authority of government to confirming the authority of “evil government.” That is the premise which is giving you difficulty.
However, that is a premise which is not in St. Paul’s teaching. Let’s look at Romans 13:3-4 to clarify that St. Paul is not saying all government is always at all times to be upheld as legitimate government:
For rulers are not a cause of fear to good conduct, but to evil. Do you wish to have no fear of authority? Then do what is good and you will receive approval from it, for it is a servant of God for your good. But if you do evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword without purpose; it is the servant of God to inflict wrath on the evildoer.
St. Paul does not spell it out, but he alludes here to the fact that he is speaking of respect for law and order when it is a moral or ethical type of law and order. It exists to punish “evil.” If, however, the governing authority itself is an evildoer, it also will come under the wrath of God.
Notice in the book of Revelations that when Nero and the emperors of Rome used their power to murder Christians without rhyme or reason, they are referred to as “the beast” of Satan, branded with the number “666” (total evil) and called “Babylon the great, mother of harlots” and of the abominations of the earth.
Revelations states that God is so angry at the injustice of illegitimate government and its political repression of the righteous that He takes terrifying revenge upon “the great whore.” The Scripture goes on to say that God has her encircled by her enemies, who pillage and burn her:
“For true and just are his judgments, who hath judged the great harlot which corrupted the earth with her fornication, and hath revenged the blood of his servants, at her hands” (Revelations 19:2).
This is why we must always judge whether a command or an order from governmental authority is righteous or unjust, whether it leads to virtue or is sinful, for God will judge us for blind obedience to worldly government. If we look at the context of Scripture quotes, we can read them as they should be read.
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