Morals of the Church
Library › Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology › Volume I › Book I. On the General Principles of the Christian Life › Treatise II. On Motion in Order to the Final End, or on the Human Act, Considered according to Moral Being › Dissertation II. On Human Acts Considered according to Moral Being › Part I. On Morality in General › Section III. On the Rules of Morality › Chapter I. On Law › Article VII. On the Effect, or on the Obligation, of Law › § II. On the Obligation of Some Laws in Particular

point — Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology

Point VI. On Dishonest Law

165.

I. If a law commands something which is opposed to the natural law or to positive-divine law, it is illicit to observe it, according to that saying: "We ought to obey God rather than men."1

1 Acts 5:29.

LawThe obligation of a law

166.

II. If a law establishes something which indeed is not opposed to the natural law or to positive-divine law, but nevertheless exceeds the competence of the legislator, of itself there is no obligation of observing it. Yet by accident there will generally be an obligation, suppose by reason of scandal, of a disturbance to be avoided, or of damage, for example, to be averted from children.

LawThe obligation of a law