How Is A Law Unjust?
The believer knows that natural law is a participation of the eternal law and that it is always and everywhere valid. Even so, discerning the correct conclusion from the natural law in a particular situation may be tricky, but that is where the Church’s Magisterium comes in to help. For the non-believer, the natural use of his reason will provide him the answers he needs but in certain tricky situations he is at a disadvantage. In using our reason with Aquinas’ definition of law as a guide, how do we know if a law is unjust? First, if it doesn’t fulfill the definition of law: “an ordinance of reason, made by him who has care of the community, for the common good, and properly promulgated.” That’s the easy answer. But Aquinas provides more distinctions to assist us. A law is unjust in two ways: 1) if it is against human good, or 2) if it against divine good. A law is against the human good if it is not in the best interests of individual citizens. A law not in the best interests of indi
