CSDC 396

Authority must be guided by the moral law. All of its dignity derives from its being exercised within the context of the moral order,⁸⁰⁴ Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, 74: AAS 58AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 58 (1966) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1966), 1095-1097. “which in turn has God for its first source and final end”.⁸⁰⁵ John XXIII, Encyclical Letter Pacem in Terris: AAS 55AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 55 (1963) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1963), 270; cf. Pius XII, Christmas Radio Message of 24 December 1944: AAS 37AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 37 (1945) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1945), 15; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2235. Because of its necessary reference to the moral order, which precedes it and is its basis, and because of its purpose and the people to whom it is directed, authority cannot be understood as a power determined by criteria of a solely sociological or historical character. “There are some indeed who go so far as to deny the existence of a moral order which is transcendent, absolute, universal and equally binding upon all. And where the same law of justice is not adhered to by all, men cannot hope to come to open and full agreement on vital issues”.⁸⁰⁶ John XXIII, Encyclical Letter Mater et Magistra: AAS 53AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 53 (1961) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1961), 449-450. This order “has no existence except in God; cut off from God it must necessarily disintegrate”.⁸⁰⁷ John XXIII, Encyclical Letter Mater et Magistra: AAS 53AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 53 (1961) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1961), 450. It is from the moral order that authority derives its power to impose obligations ⁸⁰⁸ Cf. John XXIII, Encyclical Letter Pacem in Terris: AAS 55AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 55 (1963) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1963), 269-270. and its moral legitimacy,⁸⁰⁹ Cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1902. not from some arbitrary will or from the thirst for power,⁸¹⁰ Cf. John XXIII, Encyclical Letter Pacem in Terris: AAS 55AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 55 (1963) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1963), 258-259. and it is to translate this order into concrete actions to achieve the common good.⁸¹¹ Cf. Pius XII, Encyclical Letter Summi Pontificatus: AAS 31AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 31 (1939) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1939), 432-433.