The Credo: A Deep Dive Into Our Lawful Orders

THE CREDO

MASTHEAD

DISPO, Rikki Leslie E.
Graphics

BADOY, Gianne Angela B.
Managing Editor, Writer

ASPRER, Reyman E.
Researcher, Writer

HUFANDA, Coleen Jeanelle N.
Writer

GOTGOTAO, Juliana A.
Graphics

MANALOTO, Raymond Vince G.
Writer, Layout

VILLAMOR, Nolan Adrian S. Jr.
Researcher, Writer

ROMERO, Janssen Judd G.
Layout Artist

THE CREDO | 01

AN INTRODUCTION
TO LAW

Law, an absolute matter. (What is law?)
Since the dawn of man, law has long been enforced on beings and entities of the universe. Law is the rule of

conduct or action laid down by a governing authority, especially a legislature. According to Frédéric Bastiat in
his book “The Law”, law is how the natural right to a just defense is organized. It is the replacement of separate
forces with a unified force. And this common force is to do just what the individual forces have a natural and
legitimate right to do: to safeguard people, their liberties, and property; to uphold each person's right; and to
bring about the rule of justice over all of us.

In the broadest sense, law refers to the precise direction, guideline, or authoritative norm that moves or
prevents a creature from doing. In this particular sense, we can then as well talk of law in regards even to
inanimate objects and animals incapable of thinking or being willing.

When it comes to Church teachings and the Biblical context, the Book of Proverbs tells us that Eternal Wisdom
was present when God constructed the heavens and when He contained the depths with a specific law and
compass when He covered the sea with its bounds and set a law to the seas that they should not cross their
limits. Job 24 praises God's wisdom for making weight for the winds and weighing the water by measure, for
giving a rule for the rain and a path for the thunderous storms.

Law in every matter. Law, a divine matter.
(How is law perceived?) (And St. Thomas Aquinas’ definition of Law)

Everyday experience teaches that all things The forces and inclinations to a definite, consistent
are compelled by their own nature to adopt a way of activity implanted by the Creator in the nature of
fixed, consistent attitude. Natural scientists things, or the unvarying, homogeneous activity itself that
believe that all nature is governed by universal is the outcome of that tendency, are what the laws of
and constant laws, and that the goal of the nature are. The term law is employed in this latter sense
natural sciences is to discover these laws and when it is claimed that a natural law has been modified
explain their reciprocal relationships in all or suspended by a miracle. For the miracle does not
directions. For example, our bodies are subject change the nature of things or their continual tendency;
to the law of inertia—persisting to the condition the Divine power either prevents them from producing
of rest or motion in which they may be until an their natural effect or utilizes them as a vehicle to
external cause changes such a condition. achieve an impact that exceeds their inherent capacities.
Johannes Kepler discovered the laws that prove
the planets move in elliptical orbits around the In the proper and strict sense, laws are the moral norms
sun. Isaach Newton found that all bodies attract of action that establish a public, self-governing
in direct proportion to their mass and inversely community. This was most likely the original meaning of
as to the square of the distance between them, the word law, from which it was gradually transformed
the one who discovered the law of gravitation. into other laws. St. Thomas Aquinas in Summa Theologica
I-II: 90:4 defined law as a regulation in accordance with
Today, we are aware of the rules governing reason promulgated by the head of a community for the
electricity, light, and heat; there are rules sake of the common welfare.
governing chemistry, biology, and physiology.
The scientific equations used by scholars to A thinking and willing being is the source of all
represent these laws are only laws to the regulation since law is a principle of regulation. God, the
extent that they describe the processes that Creator and Ruler of all things, is this thinking, willing
really occur in the objects under investigation, being. It is possible to argue that the forces and
since the term "law" denotes a practical norm tendencies inherent in a creature's nature constitute the
by which things must behave. These scientific law, the eternal manifestation of the Eternal Observer's
equations just express the state in which these will, and that these forces and tendencies not only lead
objects are; they have no independent effect on creatures toward their intended goals but also affect
them. them from within.

Law, a communal matter. (Presence of Law in Society)
Law is first and foremost a rule, or a practical concept, intended to control how community members behave.

In order to achieve in any community a united and systematic co-operation of all, there must be an authority
with the power to make legally enforceable rules regarding how the community's members are to behave.
However, since law is the standard for reasonable behavior, it must absolutely be reasonable. The superior's will
provides the constraining or obligatory power behind the law, which is a binding norm. Law is enforceable both
because the superior wills it and inasmuch as he wills it. Only those rules of the superior that follow reason are,
nevertheless, legally binding.
Divine law.

Any law that contradicts reason is incompatible with it. Given that God's will is fundamentally pure and just
and can only order what is in accordance with the Divine wisdom, justice, and holiness, it follows that the Divine
rules must necessarily be rational and just.
Human law.

It is a generally recognized truth that the human law must be a participation in the supreme Divine law, and it
is impossible for God to grant humans the authority to enact laws that are unreasonable and against His will.
Human laws must be subordinate to the Divine law, or at least, they must not contradict it. Moreover, law must
be beneficial to the common welfare of people and for the greater good.

THE CREDO | 02

National Issues on Christian Morality

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

Marriage between two men or two women is known as same-sex marriage. Although same-sex
marriage has been governed by law, religion, and tradition in most nations around the world, legal
and societal responses have ranged from celebration to punishment.

Religious arguments are frequently used to oppose same-sex marriage. Researchers discovered
that religious resistance to same-sex marriage was explained, at least in part, by conservative
ideology and associated to sexual discrimination in five studies conducted in the United States and
Canada (total N = 1,673). They discovered that the association between religiosity and opposition to
same-sex marriage was mediated by explicit sexual discrimination in several studies. Furthermore,
researchers discovered a relationship between the mediating effect of sexual discrimination and
political conservatism. In explaining religious opposition to same-sex marriage, the results suggested
that resistance to change was more relevant than hostility to equality.

Progressive religious leaders and civil rights organizations worked tirelessly to accomplish these
achievements, bringing us closer to our country's promise of equality and justice for all. Even still,
conservative religious opponents are alleging that same-sex marriage breaches the biblical
understanding of marriage. They are incorrect, and here's why.
1.Jesus never stated anything negative about homosexuality.

Jesus emphasized actions and attitudes of justice, love, humility, mercy, and compassion
throughout his teachings. He condemned violence, oppression, callousness, and social injustice.
Jesus never once called what we call homosexuality a sin.
2.The concept of same-sex marriage is never mentioned or condemned in the Bible.

Although opponents of same-sex marriage argue that lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender unions
violate biblical precepts, there are no texts in the Bible that specifically address homosexual
marriage or committed same-sex relationships.
3.There are only a few biblical texts that mention homosexuality, and the most of them are not
specifically about homosexuality.

Opponents of same-sex marriage frequently cite seven verses in the Christian Bible that condemn
and label homosexuality a sin. However, when viewed in context, these lessons cry out against rape,
child molestation, bestiality, and other acts that harm others and jeopardize a person's connection
with God.
Its relation in the promotion of Christian Moral Virtues in the context of law.

As stated in the readings about law, it is said that “Law is an Ordering to the Common Good”
taking into account the issue on same-sex marriage, it is evident that what they only want is for the
sake of the common good. In the readings, common goods are the end that law aims at and serves,
putting in the context of the aforementioned issue and the Christian Moral Virtues, it has been
stated clearly that religion has nothing to do with it, and what it says was that it is an end. It can be
shared by many without loss or diminishment, e.g. truth and justice. It also falls under the “Natural
Law” which is concerned with human beings being capable of understanding the world around us,
grasping with our minds, what is good for us to do, and moving ourselves to do it according to this
rational desire called, will. We use our "freedom" to direct our behavior in accordance with this plan.
This is the aim and foundation of our existence: to be the beings who voluntarily and intentionally
order ourselves before God according to his plan.As humans, what we can do is to just accept and
respect what other desires as we are created by God as beings with this rationality and morality
which are enough to said that religion has nothing to do with the issue, but moreover is concerned
for the promotion of the moral virtues as we humans are the only creatures created in the Likeness
of God to discern and to think.


THE CREDO | 03

National Issues on Christian Morality

DIVORCE



A divorce is a formal ending of a marriage. It's more permanent than separation and
involves a legal process. If you get a divorce, that means the marriage is officially over.
Countries across the globe have already legalized the legal separation between partners.
But two countries, namely, The Philippines and Vatican still remain with the notion that
we must still strictly apply the commandment of God, which can be seen in Mark 10: 6-9,
which says that “But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this
reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will
become one flesh.’So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined
together, let no one separate.” With this, It cannot be denied that our country truly makes
religion the major basis of making laws.
As time goes by, most people are now in favor of making divorce legal in the Philippines.
In fact, according to statistics by the Statista Research Department, only 7% of people say
that divorce should never happen. The rest of the 93% of respondents are in favor because
of numerous reasons such as:
1.Divorce can solve marital problems
2. Divorce gives separated people a chance to remarry
3.Divorce is globally accepted
4. Divorce is less expensive than annulment
5. We are living in modern times
But according to the Holy Bible, divorce should never be considered, and here’s why:
Against the natural law
Just like what has been taught to us Christians, that in the natural law, we, humans have
no authority over it. God is the only source of the natural law. The decalogue has revealed
that we must never commit adultery. We must remember that the Church has taught that
an objectively evil act can never become good in spite of good motive. The end does not
justify the means. According to Matthew 5: 31-32, 31“It has been said, ‘Anyone who
divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who
divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and
anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
There are numerous biblical verses that say that divorce should never be legalized
The Bible from the Old Testament to the New Testament has been very strict about
divorce and the said act is always related to adultery, which is against the decalogue.
These can be seen in ( Genesis 2: 24, Deuteronomy 22: 19, Jeremiah 3: 1, Luke 16:18, 1
Corinthians 7: 39, Matthew 19: 6-9, Matthew 19: 9, etc.)

THE CREDO | 04

National Issues on Christian Morality

ANTI-TERRORISM

The Holy Bible does not directly tackle the topic of terrorism, but as we understand
the said word, terrorism is about the unlawful use of violence in attempts of inciting
fear, intimidation, and panic, especially to innocent civilians for the goal of having
certain political aims, we can conclude that terrorism is all about killing or harming
human beings, which are made in the image and likeness of our Lord. With the
exorbitant meanings given to terrorism, there are claims that simple acts such as
protesting are considered now as terrorism, but in definition, mere acts such as
advocacy, protest, dissent, stoppage of work, industrial or mass action, and other
similar exercises of civil and political rights are not classified as acts of terrorism
since they are not intended to cause death or serious physical harm to a person, to
endanger a person's life, or to create a serious risk to public safety.

With the given definition of terrorism, we can immediately classify this as an act
that surely contradicts the teachings of our Lord. The Church has already expressed
the importance of our lives since, as stated in Genesis 1:26, we were made by God in
His own image and likeness. Isaiah 43: 1-4 and John 3:16, have also revealed how God
loves us that He is always with us and that he values us unconditionally, to the point
that He gave us His only son. In the given biblical passages, we can already see that
our lives are not meant to be harmed. It is evident that laws and acts in the
constitution were developed, mostly because of religion as one of the major basis of it.

In recent times, there have been many terrorist attacks here in the Philippines, for
instance in the span of 2012-2013, two terrorist attacks happened on Sibago Island and
in Nunungan, Mindanao, which brought almost 28 casualties and 13 wounded civilians
combined. As per the teachings of the Church and the Bible, terrorism should be
strictly prohibited, for various reasons:

The Bible says that we should never harm each other
The Old and New Testament books have revealed that God the Father and God the
Son already taught us that we must live peacefully, by always showing gentleness
towards others and the avoidance of human conflicts. Ephesians 4:31-32, states that
we should let all bitterness, wrath, anger, quarreling, and slander put away from
us, along with all hatred. And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one
another just as God has forgiven you in the Messiah.
Against the 6th commandment of the decalogue
By reading the biblical passage about the ten commandments, we can immediately
conclude that we should never murder another person, which is one of the features of
the act of terrorism.

THE CREDO | 05

SHORT
REFLECTION

Through a short discussion within our
group, we’ve came up with a reflection
that, making moral choices within our
modern world can be hard and difficult
especially now that we are in the 21st
century, as we welcome diversity, we
sometimes get confused about whether
we should be open on discussion on
certain topic that crashes with our
standard of morality. As Human beings
temptation will always be part of our
nature, for some they hold their morals
close to their hearts so they don’t
consider being tempted, but as we all
know being diverse or open to these
things doesn’t necessarily make us
immoral.

OUR PRIMARY GOAL AS INDIVIDUALS
There are different factors that affect

our view of things, and how we can
consider something as moral. The
discussed national issues were just a
reflection of how Filipinos’ decision
making are greatly influenced by the
church teachings and how they value their
standard of morality. Regardless of that
we believe that as people who have the
freedom to access the internet, it is
already part of our duty to be
knowledgeable about this certain social
issue, as such it will help us to be more
educated on the issue.

THE CREDO | 06

SHORT
REFLECTION

ON THE SEPARATION OF THE CHURCH AND THE STATE
Being that Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, otherwise
known as “SOGIE”, as well as the concept of Divorce in the country is widely
misunderstood, it can be concluded that the lack of its acceptance is
commonly associated with misinformation and false beliefs. At this point in
time, the Filipinos have always been reliant to heteronormative practices
and the “natural law”, making our society regressive instead of the other
way around.

While these types of issues can be resolved by continuing the battle of
inserting SOGIE and even Divorce into the norm, we are still unable to move
forward as a nation if the Church and the State refuses to work in
cooperation towards correcting and updating their teachings. When in fact,
such action is highly likely to become a major step into progression since
Filipinos are heavily influenced by both of the government, especially the
Church, in morals and beliefs. If SOGIE and Divorce are to be accepted and
normalized, hate crimes of Terrorism will surely be lessened.

Besides, it is the government’s primary job to keep the nation safe. The
Church’s goal, however, is to share Christ’s salvation, promoting good, and
avoiding evil. And although there is a separation of the Church and the
State, they very much can still work together as a team in reducing the
amount of hate crime, misinformation, and false beliefs that taint our
morals.

THE CREDO | 07

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Answer Key: 1.Divorce 2.Bastiat
3.Freedom 4.Terrorism 5.Moral
Across

4. The unlawful use of violence
in attempts of inciting fear,
intimidation, and panic.

Down

1. It is a formal ending of a
marriage.
2. According to him, law is how
the natural right to a just defense
is organized.

3. It is a state of not being
imprisoned or enslaved.

5. A person's standards of
beliefs in terms of what is and is
not acceptable.

WORD SEARCH

1. Law
2. Church
3. Morality
4. Marriage
5. Society
6.Divine Law
7. Will
8. God
9. Aquinas
1 0 .V i s i o n

THE CREDO | 08

REFERENCES

THE CREDO | 00