Authorities in Civil Society
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Simplified
Public Authority (2234)
We must honor those who have received public authority from God. The fourth commandment clarifies these duties of government authority and of citizens.
Three Duties of Government (2235-2237)
Authority must be exercised as a service. It is judged by its divine origin, its reasonable motive and its specific object. No authority can command anything which violates the dignity of the person or the natural law.
Authority must express a hierarchy of values which facilitate the exercise of freedom and responsibility. Authority must practice distributive justice which takes into account the needs of all and the contribution of each. These regulations must not satisfy personal interest over the community's interest.
Political authorities must respect the fundamental rights of human persons and dispense justice humanely (especially toward families and the disadvantaged). The political rights attached to citizenship must be granted for the common good and cannot be suspended without legitimate reasons. Citizens must use these political rights for the common good.
Duties of Citizens (2238-2240)
Citizens should see authority figures as representatives of God. Loyal cooperation, however, includes the right to voice just criticism against what is harmful to persons or to the community.
Citizens must also contribute to the common good. This common good requires that a citizen fulfill his role in the community's political life.
This co-responsibility means citizens must pay taxes, vote, and defend one's country. "Pay to all of them their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due" (Rom 13:7). "Christians obey the established laws and their way of life surpasses the laws" (Letter to Diogneties).
Accepting Immigrants (2241)
To the extent that they are able, more prosperous nations must welcome foreigners who cannot find work in their own country. These foreigners must be safeguarded from harm.
Authorities are able to make this right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions concerning the immigrant's duties toward the host country. Immigrants must obey laws and contribute to their new country's well being.
Times to Refuse Obedience (2242)
Citizens must refuse to obey directions of civil authorities which are against the moral order, the fundamental rights of persons or the Gospel teachings. By refusing obedience, the person correctly serves God and not the political community. A distinction exists between what "is rendered to Caesar" and what "is rendered to God" (Mt 22:21). "We must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).
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