The Church Renews: The Council of Trent For the Council - what relationship should the Church have with the political powers and how should it relate to them? Politics and Worldly Dimensions

U.S. Constitution (Second Amendment) Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. (One country’s view)

Public Authority Public authority is obliged to respect the fundamental rights of the human person and the conditions for the exercise of his freedom. (Catholic Catechism 2254)

Duty of Citizens It is the duty of citizens to work with civil authority for building up society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom. (Catholic Catechism 2255)

BUT… Citizens are obliged in conscience not to follow the directives of civil authorities when they are contrary to the demands of the moral order. "We must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). (Catechism 2256)

The View of Jesus “Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?“ Knowing their malice, Jesus said, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin that pays the census tax." Then they handed him the Roman coin. He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?“ They replied, "Caesar's. “ At that he said to them, "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” Matthew 22: 17-21

St. Thomas More St. Thomas More was one of several Catholic martyrs who refused to accept King Henry VIII as the supreme head of the Church in England, with authority superseding that of the Roman Pontiff. Consequently, St. Thomas was imprisoned in the tower of London. Refusing to sign the oath of succession, he was executed in 1545.

Other Defenders of the Faith

St. Ignatius Loyola St. Ignatius of Loyola along with six others began the Jesuit order and was blessed by Pope Paul III on September 27, The Society of Jesus was like no other order in Church history. They first sought to defend the Roman Catholic faith from the ever, spreading heresy of the Protestant reformation. They were expertly educated men of great character and strength and sought to secure the faith by preaching first to those in political power.

St. John Fisher St. John Fisher was another Martyr of the English Protestant reformation instigated by King Henry VIII. St. John was the last Catholic Bishop of Rochester. When imprisoned by Henry the Pope elevated him to Cardinal. King Henry resented this and is quoted as saying: “Well let the Pope send him a red hat when he will – But I will so provide that when so ever it comes, he shall wear it on his shoulders, for head he shall have none.”

Our Catholic Faith is Founded in… Scripture Tradition Magisterium of the Church

...and for the heretics who visited us at our place, preaching Sola Scriptura…

Sola scriptura (by scripture alone) Where do the heretics who teach this doctrine find it in the Bible? Uh…well…er… (not there) “And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:18-19

However…. "However, one cannot charge with the sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities [that resulted from such separation] and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers.... All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church.” (Catechism 818)

Summary The Church and its members should be more focused on spiritual, not temporal or political things This Council should agree that the Church should not interfere in political matters and governance unless required to do by the Gospel message. Ultimately, "We must obey God rather than men".