CUM PRIMUM (On Civil Obedience)
Pope
Gregory XVI
Encyclical of
Pope Gregory XVI on Civil Obedience on 9 June 1832
To All Archbishops and Bishops Dwelling in the
Venerable Brothers, Greetings and Apostolic
Benediction.
When the first report of the calamities, which
so seriously devastated your flourishing kingdom
reached our ears, We learned simultaneously that they had been caused by some
fabricators of deceit and lies. Under the pretext of religion, and revolting
against the legitimate authority of the princes, they filled their fatherland,
which they loosed from due obedience to authority, with mourning. We shed
abundant tears at the feet of God, grieving over the harsh evil with which some
of our flock was afflicted. Afterward We humbly prayed that God would enable
your provinces, agitated by so many and so serious dissensions, to be restored
to peace and to the rule of legitimate authority.
2. We were immediately eager to send an
encyclical letter to you that you might understand that We too were oppressed
by the weight of your troubles. We hoped to add some solace and strength to
your pastoral solicitude by which you might apply yourselves with new and more
ardent zeal to propagating sounder doctrines and to persuading your precious
followers, both in the clergy and among the laity. That letter never reached
you because of the troubles of the times; therefore, now that God has restored
quiet and tranquility, We again open our heart to you. We hope to kindle your
zeal and solicitude as much as We can with the help of God, so that you may
diligently protect your flock from the true causes of your past troubles. Watch
earnestly lest deceitful men and the promoters of novelties continue to spread
erroneous doctrines and false dogmas in your flock. Using the pretext of the
common good, as is their custom, they take advantage of the credulity of those
who are naive and rash, so that they may have them as blind servants and
supporters in disturbing the peace of the kingdom and in overturning the order
of society.
3. Surely the fraud of these would-be teachers
must be uncovered in clear words for the good and the instruction of the
faithful. The fallacy of their thought must be refuted courageously everywhere
with the words of divine scripture and the testimony of Church tradition. From
these most pure fountains (from which the Catholic clergy ought to draw the
plan of their lives and the material for their sermons to the people) We are
taught most clearly that the obedience which men are obliged to render to the
authorities established by God is an absolute precept which no one can violate,
except if by chance something is commanded which runs counter to the laws of
God or of the Church. "Let everyone" says the Apostle, "be subject
to higher authorities, for there exists no authority except from God, and those
who exist have been appointed by God. Therefore he who resists the authority
resists the ordination of God . . . wherefore you must needs be subject not
only because of the wrath, but also for conscience sake" (Rom 13:1,2,5). Similarly St. Peter (1 Pt 2:13) teaches all the
faithful: "Be subject to every human creature for God's sake, whether to
the king as supreme, or to the governors sent through him ..." for (he
says) such is the will of God, that by doing good you would silence the
ignorance of foolish men." By observing these admonitions the first
Christians, even during the persecutions, deserved well of the Roman emperors
themselves and of the security of the state. "Christian soldiers,"
says
4. The holy Fathers have always taught this
doctrine. The Catholic Church has taught it and continues to teach it. Having
been taught it, the first Christians lived and acted in such a manner that,
although the crime of cowardice and desertion had contaminated the pagan army,
it never contaminated the Christians. On this point Tertullian reports:
"Concerning the majesty of the emperor, we Christians are brought into ill
repute. Nevertheless, no Christians will be found among men like Albinus or
Given in