Police Authority: A Theological Perspective on Disobedience

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Americans are called to obey police officers as figures with authority. However, as we have seen in the news recently, police brutality is a common occurrence. People are starting to question police authority and whether or not they should have to obey at all times, even to the point of physical harm. Similarly, Aquinas and Augustine deem there are times in which it is acceptable to disobey earthly authorities, most notably when violating the divine law, however, Augustine disagrees with Aquinas in the extent that you may disobey such as when a law’s intent is immoral, the subject of the power is not prevailing, the burden of the law is not proportionately placed on the citizens, and the law is not ordained for the commonweal.
Augustine and …show more content…

185). Laws can be either just or unjust when bred by human beings. Aquinas defines a just law as a law “ordained for the common good… when the laws enacted do not surpass the power of the lawmakers… and when they impose proportionately equal burdens on citizens for the common good” (96.4 p. 64). Throughout society, there are several roles in which there are different rulers who have the authority to rule justly. For example, “Soldiers are obliged to obey their commanders in military matters, slaves their masters in performing servile tasks, children their parents in matters of life training and household chores” (104.5 p. 183). Civil authority is a significant component in a well-run society for two reasons: peace and justice. It all …show more content…

Both Augustine and Aquinas agree that there are times in which it is perfectly acceptable to disobey earthly authorities. The difference however, is that Aquinas is more lenient and finds it acceptable to disobey in more situations than Augustine. Likewise, states are given the power to determine whether police officers’ actions are just or not and furthermore establish punishments based on the decision. However, in the same manner, some states are more lenient in what they consider unjust or harmful to the

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