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Societies not recognizing this vision or
rejecting it in the name of their independence from God
are brought to seek their criteria and goal in themselves
or to borrow them from some ideology. Since they do not
admit that one can defend an objective criterion of good
and evil, they arrogate to themselves an explicit or
implicit totalitarian power over man and his destiny, as
history shows.5’ 2245 The
Church, because of her commission and competence, is not to
be confused in any way with the political community. She
912 is both the sign and the safeguard of the transcendent
character of the human person. ‘The Church respects and
encourages the political freedom and responsibility of the
citizen.’52 2246 It is a part
of the Church’s mission ‘to pass moraljudgements
2420 even in matters related to politics, whenever the
fundamental rights of man or the salvation of souls requires
it. The means, the 2032 only means, she may use are
those which are in accord with the Gospel and the welfare of
all men according to the diversity of times and
circumstances.’53 2247 ‘Honour your father and your mother’ (Dt s:i6; Mk 7:10). 2248 According to the fourth commandment, God has
willed that, after him, we should
honour our parents and those whom he has vested with
authority f or our good. 2249 The conjugal community is established upon
the covenant and consent of the spouses. Marriage and family
are ordered to the good of the spouses, to the procreation
and the education of children. 2250 ‘The well-being of the individual person
and of both human and Christian society is closely bound up
with the healthy state of conjugal and family life’
(GS47~I). 2251 Children owe their parents respect,
gratitude,just obedience and assistance. Filial respect
fosters harmony in all offamily l~fe. 2252 Parents have thefirst responsibilityfor the
education oftheir children in the faith, prayer and all the
virtues. They have the duty to provide as far as possible
for the physical and spiritual needs of their children. 2253 Parents should respect and encourage their
children’s vocations. They should remember and teach
that the first calling of the Christian is to follow Jesus. |
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