The Law written in Consciences & Relativism's lack of Good Purpose

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1. What is natural law? What role does it play in human positive law? With this, how must human positive law relate to the common good?

Natural law is the law to which every conscience has been ordered.[1] It is the innate guide of conscience whose destination is the flourishing of human life and thus love.[2] Natural law addresses our need for God and helps us attain our ultimate end toward salvation by discouraging us from sin.[3] We love God (and thus neighbor) by keeping His commandments, which have been written on our hearts.[4] Natural law induces human growth through grace and providence, because “everything works for the good of those who love God”.[5] Natural law serves as the foundation for human law.[6] A just human law that serves the common good is legitimate.[7] “As Augustine says, (De Lib. Arb. i, 5), ‘a law that is not just, seems to be no law at all.’”[8] If any human law complies with natural law, it is made in good conscience and is just.

2. Does the notion of objective truth undermine freedom? 

When we accept the reality of truth, we are able to use it as a premise for action and expect/be consoled that it will lead us forward. Therefore, it leads to greater freedom. Whereas, if we choose to not use any supposed objective truth, we are bound in constant concern/ignorance, unable to experience what truly is. If we chose to believe a lie in place of objective truth, we will perpetually seek that it is as we decided and will discover that it will be an obstacle as long as we choose to stubbornly assert the lie. Contrarily, all the time, effort, etc. we spent being convinced against reality, we may have spent discovering what realty is and applying that knowledge to gain more. A lie must be manually reaffirmed but truth affirms itself and resonates within the heart of the observer. Simone Weil has said, "If one turns aside from Him to go toward the truth, one will not go far before falling into His arms."[9] The longer one’s acceptance of truth is delayed the greater the cost of one’s lack of belief will be. If one despises the teachings of the saints, it will not be long before they despise both the Gospel and truth. We call them saints not just because of their miracles but firstly for their abandonment to/preaching the truth.  Further, if legislation predicates itself upon faulty premises, how can we expect a just, reasonable, and necessary law to come forth? “The truth will set you free”. [10]

FN:

  1. Cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd ed. (Washington, DC: United States Catholic Conference, 2000), 1954.
  2. Topping, Ryan. Introduction. In Rebuilding Catholic Culture: How the "Catechism" Can Shape Our Common Life. (Manchester, NH: Sophia Institute Press, 2012).; CCC, 27.
  3. Cf. CCC, 27.
  4. Cf. The New American Bible, Revised Edition (Washington, DC: Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, 2011), at United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, www.usccb.org, John 14:15; Cf. NABRE, Jeremiah 31:33.
  5. NABRE, Romans 8:28.
  6. Cf. Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae, II, q. 95, a. 2, at New Advent, www.newadvent.org.
  7. CCC, 1903.
  8. Cf. Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae, II, q. 96 a. 4, at New Advent, www.newadvent.org.
  9. Simone Weil, Waiting for God (London: Routledge Kegan Paul, 1951), 36.
  10. NABRE, John 8:32.

I am a Theology major attending Holy Apostles College and Seminary. I am a Knight of Columbus and a Newman Ambassador for Pius XII Newman Center.

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