Why Conservative Catholics Welcome Gospel in Action.

Brothers and Sisters:
You know the time: it is the hour now for you to awaken from sleep...

For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Let us conduct ourselves properly, as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and lust, not in rivalry and jealousy.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

 ~ Letter from Paul to the Romans, Chapter 13, verses 11 - 14.
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Pay to all their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, toll to whom toll is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another. For the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, shall not kill, you shall not steal, shall not covet,” and whatever other commandments there may be, are summed up in this saying, [namely] “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Love does no evil to the neighbor.
Hence, Love is the fulfillment of the law.*

~ Romans 13:7-10.


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*[13:1–7] Paul must come to grips with the problem raised by a message that declares people free from the law. How are they to relate to Roman authority? The problem was exacerbated by the fact that imperial protocol was interwoven with devotion to various deities. Paul builds on the traditional instruction exhibited in Wis 6:1–3, according to which kings and magistrates rule by consent of God.

From this perspective, then, believers who render obedience to the governing authorities are obeying the one who is highest in command. At the same time, it is recognized that Caesar has the responsibility to make just ordinances and to commend uprightness. That Caesar is not entitled to obedience when such obedience would nullify God’s prior claim to the believers’ moral decision becomes clear in the light of the following verses.

[13:8–10] When love directs the Christian’s moral decisions, the interest of law in basic concerns, such as familial relationships, sanctity of life, and security of property, is safeguarded. Indeed, says Paul, the same applies to any other commandment, whether one in the Mosaic code or one drawn up by local magistrates under imperial authority. Love anticipates the purpose of public legislation, namely, to secure the best interests of the citizenry. Since Caesar’s obligation is to punish the wrongdoer, the Christian who acts in love is free from all legitimate indictment.