Authority and Civil Disobedience Study Guide (¶1897-1904,2242-2246)
- What is the definition of authority? (3 parts ¶1897)
- Why is authority necessary? What benefits (3 ¶1897-1898)?
- Where is all moral authority derived from? (¶1899)
- What does the catechism say about obedience? (¶1900)
- Will the Church determine the type of political system a society should have? If not, who should determine it? (¶1901)
- What does the Church think about the diversity of political structures that are available in societies? (¶1901)
- What is a legitimate authority and use of authority? (¶1903)
- What happens if an authority abuses its power according to the catechism? (¶1903)
- Who said “An unjust law is no law at all”?
- Who said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”?
- Who said, “An unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal and natural law”?
- Who said, “I die the king’s good servant, but God’s first”?
- What is the teaching of ¶2242?
- What limits are there on how civil disobedience should be done? (¶2242)
- Is armed resistance ever a legitimate response to an abuse of authority? (¶2243)
- What are some of the costs that might be associated with challenging the abuse of authority? Relate the costs to specific societies.
- What did it cost MLK Jr.? St. Thomas More?
- Why is it worth the cost?
- What is the 4 step process that Martin Luther King Jr. outlined in his plan for civil disobedience?
- Who is the intended audience of MLK Jr.’s letter and why is he writing to them?
- What are the specific questions that were asked during the 3rd step of civil disobedience? Why were they important?
- Is there ever a good time for civil disobedience? (Address both parties involved in an issue).
- Whose competence is it to set a specific speed limit? When would/should/might the Church comment on the speed limit? (¶2245-2246)
- What is the difference between “separate” and “distinct” and which is the proper one to describe the Church/state relationship and why?
- What is a Bible passage that would relate to this?
- How did St. Thomas More illustrate the proper relationship? (Two quotes from the movie)
Essay: Referring to the specific teachings found in the catechism on authority and civil disobedience (¶1903 for example) respond to the following (absolutely hypothetical) situation by writing a well-constructed paragraph using the language of the CCC.
If Mr. Langenfeld gives out answer sheets for the DRT during the DRT…
(1)Why is this an abuse of authority?
(2)What effect would the abuse have on his authority?
(3)What effect would the abuse have on the society (class)? With less authority the class becomes…
(4)What should you as a “citizen” do and why? (¶2242)
(5)Specifically, how would you civilly disobey? (Outline a plan of action) (MLK Jr. steps might help)