P6Ch42a Government and Politics

Part 6 Ethics Chapter 42 Government, Authority and Laws Section a. Government and Politics This chapter begins with a discussion of 'social order' as society with government, the need for which arises from the need to coordinate all towards the common good. This naturally brings the discussion to the relation of the good, and therefore the relation between church and state. It is the states job to: i) protect and facilitate public morals ii) favour and facilitate the worship of God in accordance with the common good. Other aspects of the activity of the state are as follows: i) direct politics for the sake of the good ii) uphold justice through the laws iii) correct what is out of order in society iv) assist in the supplementary and subsidiary functions of society There are many different systems of government that can do this, and they are good to the extent that they lead men to their last end and recognize the dignity of the human person.