"It may surprise you to learn that Catholic moral teaching does not assert that civil governments must or should be democracies. Recall that over the course of history, the Catholic Faith has dwelt in many different kinds of political and economic systems. That is still the case today as the Church pursues its mission across the globe. With all of these varied settings and experiences, Catholic moral teaching is not concerned so much for systems as for persons.
"In the Lord's own time, the government was highly unjust and yet Jesus did not call for any kind of political revolution nor did He suggest some new economic philosophy. He proclaimed God's sovereignty: 'The kingdom of God has drawn near!' (Mark 1:15) . . .
"While Catholic moral teaching does not demand one system over another, it does exhort the faithful, the wider society, and political and economic leaders to recognize and protect the dignity of persons. . . ."
In a recent commentary, Bishop Richard G. Henning, the bishop of the Diocese of Providence
(RI), reflected on how, although the rule of law is not an explicit part of Catholic moral teaching, "this principle dovetails nicely with the Catholic moral
concern for the dignity of persons and for the common good."
To access Bishop Henning's complete essay, please visit:
The State of Hope: The Rule of Law (26 SEP 24)
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