Questions and Answers

1935. What is “authority”? (CCC 1897) “Authority” is the quality by virtue of which persons or institutions make laws and give orders to men and expect obedience from them.
1936. What is the role of authority? (CCC 1898) The role of authority is to ensure as far as possible the common good of a human community.
1937. Whence derives the authority required by the moral order? (CCC 1899) The authority required by the moral order derives from God.
1938. What is the New Testament locus classicus on the authority of the state? (CCC 1899) The New Testament locus classicus on the authority of the state is Rom 13: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God (etc.).”
1939. Who has provided the Church’s most ancient prayer for political authorities? (CCC 1900) Pope St Clement of Rome († around 100) has provided the Church’s most ancient prayer for political authorities.
Grant to them, Lord, health, peace, concord and stability, so that they may exercise without offence the sovereignty that you have given them (etc.).
1940. Whence is the authority of rulers derived? (CCC 1901) The authority of rulers is derived from God.
1941. Does the divine derivation of the rulers’ authority imply only one acceptable form of government? (CCC 1901) No, the divine derivation of the ruler’s authority does not imply only one acceptable form of government, but each people is free to choose how its rulers are appointed.
1942. Under what condition is the diversity of political regimes morally acceptable? (CCC 1901) The diversity of political regimes is morally acceptable under the condition that they serve the legitimate good of the communities that adopt them.
1943. Which regimes are morally unacceptable? (CCC 1901) Those regimes are morally unacceptable whose nature is contrary to the natural law, to the public order and to the fundamental rights of persons.
1944. When is a law an unjust law according to St Thomas Aquinas? (CCC 1902) According to St Thomas Aquinas († 1274) a law is an unjust law if it does not accord with right reason.
1945. When only is authority exercised legitimately? (CCC 1903) Authority is exercised legitimately only when it:
1. seeks the common good of the group concerned
2. employs morally licit means to attain it.
1946. What is the ‘rule of law’? (CCC 1904) The ‘rule of law’ is when in a state sovereignty is held by the law and not by the arbitrary will of men.
1947. What is the common good? (CCC 1906) The common good is the sum total of social conditions which allow people, groups as well as individuals, to reach their fulfilment more completely and more easily.
The common good is called in Latin: bonum commune.
1948. Of which three essential elements does the common good consist? (CCC 1907-1909) The common good consists of:
1. respect for the person
2. social well-being and development
3. peace and security of the group and of its members.
1949. In what does “respect for the person” consist? (CCC 1907) “Respect for the person” consists in safeguarding the exercise of the natural freedoms indispensable for man’s development.
1950. In what do “social well-being and development” consist? (CCC 1908) “Social well-being and development” consist in making accessible to each what is needed to lead a truly human life.
Such goods are: food, clothing, health, work, education, culture, suitable information, the right to establish a family (etc.).
1951. How is peace defined? (CCC 1909) Peace is defined as the stability and security of a just order.
1952. Whose role is it to defend and promote the common good of civil society? (CCC 1910) It is the role of the state to defend and promote the common good of civil society.
1953. What does the universal common good call for? (CCC 1911) The universal common good calls for an organization of the community of nations able to provide for the needs of men involving the sphere of social life: questions of food, hygiene, education, refugees and migrants.
The universal common good is the sum total of social conditions of the community of nations.
1954. On what is the “order of persons” founded? (CCC 1912) The “order of persons” is founded on truth, built up in justice and animated by love.
The “order of things” must be subordinate to the “order of persons”.
1955. What is social “participation”? (CCC 1913) Social “participation” is the voluntary and generous engagement of a person in social interchange.
1956. How is social participation achieved first of all? (CCC 1914) Social participation is achieved first of all by taking charge of those areas for which one assumes personal responsibility.
E.g. by the care taken for the education of one’s family, by conscientious work.