Natural Law

One of the characteristics of today’s attacks on human life is the tendency to demand their legal justification, as if they were rights that the state must recognize for its citizens, at least under certain conditions.” (The Gospel of Life, 68)

These words of Pope Saint John Paul II reflect the current reality in Korea with striking accuracy. Abortion and euthanasia, which were once considered crimes, are now being packaged as fundamental human rights and demanding legalization. The proposed amendments to the Maternal and Child Health Act and the Assisted Dignified Death Act are representative examples illustrating this situation in Korean society.

However, can a crime become a legitimate act simply by being legalized? What exactly is law? Can what is legally permissible also be ethically right? St. Thomas Aquinas, the great medieval theologian and philosopher, defines law as “the rule and measure of action.” In other words, law serves as the standard that guides human conduct. 

If so, it would seem that we must obey whatever is established by law. However, St. Thomas Aquinas adds one crucial point: “The rule and measure of human actions is reason, which is the first principle of human actions.” In other words, law is not merely the codified legislation we think of as law but also what conforms to reason. 

So, what does a law that conforms to reason mean? Here, we are reminded of the “Natural Law” that God has implanted within us. Natural Law is the law inscribed in the reason of every human being, teaching us the basic principle: “Pursue the good and avoid the evil!” 

So, what is good, and what is evil? St. Thomas Aquinas speaks of our natural inclinations guided by reason. The standard by which reason guides our natural inclinations is our own perfection—in other words, happiness. Human beings achieve perfection through good deeds, and the Church teaches that humanity's ultimate goal is to see God. Ultimately, human perfection consists in reaching eternal communion with God, and within that communion, we also share fellowship with others. 

The answer, then, is clear. We must strive to ensure that our specific actions do not undermine this communion. Respecting the personal dignity of others is a fundamental principle when interacting with them, and that respect begins, above all, with an attitude of care for their well-being. Therefore, Pope John Paul II said that national law guarantees fundamental human rights and preserves the common good, and he described the right to life as the most fundamental of all basic rights. He also points out that a law that infringes on such fundamental rights loses its binding force. Such a law is no longer a law.  

 "The law is not absolute. And the law can very well become evil. … The word 'legal' does not necessarily mean 'just.'"