“… those who are subject of authority obey just laws not as slaves or puppets who are moved by a force outside themselves. Whether or not they have participated in the decision, if they understand the truth of the laws, then as free persons they will embrace such truths as a matter of conscience. A true government does not act on human beings as slaves or through mindless conformity. The true citizen participates in realizing the common good by obedience to the law which is an exercise of prudence and justice from his point of view. This citizen has dominion over his free acts. So there must be a rectitude in the government and the governed. The rightness of will in the governed is called political prudence which is the natural response to regnative prudence. This also must implement the ontological good of the powers of human nature.”
- Fr. Brian Mullady OP, Christian Social Order
