The right to conscienctious objection

From Peacebuilding

Contents 1 Aim: 2 Time: 3 Participants: 4 Materials: 5 Procedure: 6 Handout – The Right to Conscientious Objection 6.1 The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church 7 Questions for group work:

Aim:

To introduce and explore the right to conscientious objection according to the Church’s social teaching

Time:

60 minutes, or more if necessary

Participants:

Six and abov

Materials:

• Copies of the handout, “The right to conscientious objection” (see below)

• Paper or notebooks

• Pencils

• Flip charts

• Markers

Procedure:

I) Divide the plenary into groups of three.

II) Distribute copies of the handout to each group.

III) Assign the groups’ task:

First, read paragraph 399 of the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, which sets out the “right to conscientious objection” (handout).

Second, answer the questions in the handout.

Allow sufficient time for group work (at least 20 minutes).

IV) Ask each group of three to join with another to form new groups of six.

V) Assign the groups’ task: to share their answers to the questions in the handout. Allow sufficient time (at least 20 minutes).

VI) After discussion, based on what they talked about, ask each group of six to identify:

• the point/issue that was discussed most

• the point/issue that generated most controversy/divergent opinions

• the point/issue that they think is most relevant to what they do.

VII) Return to the plenary and ask: “Which point was discussed most?” Elicit replies from participants and generate discussion (the key question here is “why?”).

VIII) Repeat the step VII procedure with the second and third questions (2nd. What is the point/issue that generated most controversy/divergent opinions? 3rd. What is the point/issue that you think is most relevant to what you do?).

Handout – The Right to Conscientious Objection

The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church

(399) Citizens are not obligated in conscience to follow the prescriptions of civil authorities if their precepts are contrary to the demands of the moral order, to the fundamental rights of persons or to the teachings of the Gospel. Unjust laws pose dramatic problems of conscience for morally upright people: when they are called to cooperate in morally evil acts they must refuse. Besides being a moral duty, such a refusal is also a basic human right which, precisely as such, civil law itself is obliged to recognise and protect.

“Those who have recourse to conscientious objection must be protected not only from legal penalties but also from any negative effects on the legal, disciplinary, financial and professional plane” [Pope John Paul II, Encyclical Letter, Evangelium Vitae].

It is a grave duty of conscience not to cooperate, not even formally, in practices which, although permitted by civil legislation, are contrary to the Law of God. Such cooperation in fact can never be justified, not by invoking respect for the freedom of others nor by appealing to the fact that it is foreseen and required by civil law. No one can escape the moral responsibility for actions taken and all will be judged by God himself based on this responsibility (cf. Romans 2:6; 14:12)

Questions for group work:

• What are the conditions that allow citizens to disobey the prescriptions of civil authorities, according to the social doctrine of the Church?

• How can we determine when a precept of a civil authority is contrary to a) moral order; b) the fundamental rights of persons; and c) the teachings of the Gospel?

• What is the relationship between the right to conscientious objection and “disobedience”?

• What are the implications of disobedience to authority?

• What happens when conscientious objectors are not protected by civil law?

• What are the implications for Christians when the Church says “when they are called to cooperate in morally evil acts, they must refuse” and “it is a grave duty of conscience not to cooperate, not even formally, in practices which, although permitted by civil legislation, are contrary to the Law of God”?

• Can you give examples of when citizens have disobeyed civil authorities’ precepts based on alleged violation of the moral order, human rights or the Gospel?