John Paul II on Laws
John Paul II’s teachings on laws are not only a theological exposition, but also a modern description of interpersonal relationships by means of the philosophical concept of natural laws. Other than that it should remain in line with the general rules of natural law, statutory law is not among his main points of concern. The Pope significantly interpolates the classical teachings of Thomas Aquinas so as to perceive human dignity and individual autonomy as the source of interpersonal order. Having accepted The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Catholic Church has modernized its language to restate the same axioms, which previously had been expressed in terms of natural law. Yet, John Paul II proposes his own classification of fundamental rights, where two thereof play the central role, namely the right to life and to religious freedom, which he calls “the heart of human rights”.
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