Article — Gury-Ballerini, Compendium of Moral Theology (8th ed., 1884)
Article III. On the Obedience and Reverence of Citizens toward Temporal Authority
- From natural law and positive divine law we are bound, under the title of piety, to furnish reverence and obedience to our civil Superiors. For they hold the place of God Himself in the temporal order toward us. For thus the Apostle to the Romans 13. 1 and following: Let every soul be subject to higher powers, FOR THERE IS NO POWER EXCEPT FROM GOD; and those which are, are ordained by God. Therefore he who resists power resists the ordinance of God. But those who resist acquire damnation for themselves... For he (the Prince) is the minister of God, an avenger unto wrath for him who does evil. Therefore be subject by necessity, not only because of wrath, but also because of conscience.
Wherefore the Catechism of the Council of Trent compares and joins an obligation of this sort with that by which we are bound toward paternal and ecclesiastical authority. For in part III, on the fourth commandment, §15, after it taught that parents and ecclesiastical Superiors are to be honored with due honor, it adds: "Likewise the same must be said of Kings, Princes, Magistrates, and the rest to whose power we are subject." But it explains this thus: "For if we render some honor to them, this is referred to God; for the excellent grade of dignity has the veneration of men, because it is in the likeness of divine power: in which also we venerate the providence of God, who attributed to them the administration of public office and uses them as ministers of His power." It is also clear from sacred Scripture, especially 1 Pet. 2. 13, where it is said: Be subject therefore to every human creature on account of God; whether to the King as excelling, or to governors as sent by him... And ibid. 17: Honor the King. - See also St. Justin, Apol. 1. 47. - St. Theophilus of Antioch, ad Autol., lib. 1, c. 11. - St. Clement, Const., c. 12. - Tertullian, ad Scap., c. 2. - St. Gregory Nazianzen, Or. 17. - St. Chrysostom, Hom. 6 ad Ant. - St. Irenaeus, adv. Haeres., l. V. 24. - St. Augustine on Ps. 124, n. 7, and De Civit. Dei, l. V. 10, 11, 14, 15. - Confer also the Encyclical Letters of Gregory XVI and Pius IX.
- Q. Whether it is sometimes lawful not to obey temporal authority, and whether it is sometimes lawful to rebel?
Resp. The doctrine of sacred Scripture, of the Fathers, of Councils, of the Supreme Pontiffs, of the Catechism of the Council of Trent, of St. Liguori, Hom. apost., tr. 8, §13, and also of the Encyclical of Gregory XVI, 15 Aug. 1832, which expresses the whole Catholic tradition, can be resumed in a few words concerning this question thus.
To the first. Just as it is evident that human authority is never to be obeyed in those things which are evidently against the law of God, so in those things which are licit per se, Princes are altogether to be obeyed, EVEN THE FROWARD, and also those who abuse their authority. From these most pure sources, namely Scripture and tradition, Gregory XVI says in the Brief of 9 June 1832, we are most plainly taught that the obedience which men are bound to furnish to the powers constituted by God is an absolute precept which no one can oppose.
To the second. It is never altogether lawful to rebel. "Too pernicious in this matter," says St. Liguori, "was the principle of John Gerson, who dared to assert that a monarch can legitimately be judged by the whole nation if he governs the kingdom unjustly...: a principle, I say, not only false, but most pernicious... But what remedy is present if the governance of the Prince were excessively tyrannical? The remedy which is available," says St. Thomas, "is to recur to God, that He may furnish aid." - Hom. apost., tract. 8, n. 13.
But, says St. Thomas, in order that the people may merit obtaining this benefit from God, they must cease from sins, because in vengeance for sin, by divine permission, the impious receive power. De Reg. princ., lib. 1, c. 6. - See especially the Encyclical Letter of Gregory XVI, 15 Aug. 1832 1.
1 These things are confirmed from article LXIII of the Syllabus of the principal errors of our age, proscribed by our Most Holy Lord Pope Pius IX, which reads thus: It is lawful to refuse obedience to legitimate princes, and indeed to rebel.