|
|
|
|
|
2254 Public authority is obliged to
respect the fundamental rights of the human person and the
conditions for the exercise of his freedom. 2255 It is the duty of citizens to work with
civil authority for building up society in a spirit of
truth,justice, solidarity andfreedom. 2256 Citizens are obliged in conscience not to
follow the directives of civil authorities when they are
contrary to the demands of the moral order. ‘We must
obey God rather than men’ (Acts 5:29). 2257 Every society’s judgements and conduct
reflect a vision of man and his destiny. Without the light
the Gospel sheds on God and man, societies easily become
totalitarian. You shall not kill.54 You
have heard that it was said to the men of old,
‘You shall not kill: and
whoever kills shall be liable tojudgement.’ But I say
to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be
liable tojudgement.55 2258
‘Human life is sacred because from its beginning it
involves
relationship with the Creator, who is its
sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning
until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for
himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human
being.’~6
The witness of sacred history
2259 In the account of Abel’s murder by his
brother Cain,57 Scripture reveals the presence of anger and
envy in man, conse. 401 quences of original sin, from the
beginning of human history. Man has
become the enemy of his fellow man. God declares the
wickedness of this fratricide: ‘What have you done? The
voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from
the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which
has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood
from your hand.'
|
|
|
|
|
|