An Easter Reflection and Catholic Legal Theory

            

Early in the New Year of 2008 I posed several questions about our project of Catholic Legal Theory and end times—end times not in the context of final world conflagration, but in the sense of the destiny of the human being. In short, my posting [HERE] was designed to raise questions and a potential discussion about the role that Catholic Legal Theory may play in matters eschatological and soteriological. At that time, I mentioned that I would not be offering answers, and no one else came forward with any thoughts in response to my posting. Now that we are at the beginning of the Easter Triduum, I thought I would provide readers with a few thoughts on the matters that I raised in my January post.

I would like to begin with the question Pilate poses to Jesus: “What is truth?” (John 18:38) It would appear that truth and the law have something in common in that witnesses called to testify pledge that they will bear witness to the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth (so help them God). Jesus reminds us that he is the way, the truth, and the life—and no one goes to the Father except through Jesus. (John 14:6) Somehow, the truth of human existence and human destiny is that God sent His only son so that we who believe in Him will be saved and be granted eternal life. (John 3:16-18) Disciples are called to testify to this truth, and I suppose this would include we who call ourselves Catholic Legal Theorists.

During these next several days, we have an abundance of rich opportunities to reflect on the meaning of these passages from the Gospel of St. John in the context of our lives as people of faith, as disciples of Christ, and as those who have some opportunity through our calling to assist others in considering God’s truth about human destiny. I am not suggesting that it is the role of Catholic Legal Theorists to advocate for theocratic governance, but I am proposing that Catholic Legal Theorists, through their writing, teaching, and lecturing, can exercise a role in which the law that is enacted, enforced, and adjudicated might be disposed to complementing this truth about human nature and human destiny. While an imperfect institution, the law nevertheless can be a means by which more members of the human family have the opportunity to meet this truth and to fulfill the corresponding destiny that accompanies it—even if the only truth that can be realized is partial, i.e., there is something beyond the present moment toward which civil society can properly attempt.

In particular, we Catholic Legal Theorists might consider how our positions, callings, and responsibilities in life enable us to assist those with whom we work—be they students, colleagues, practitioners, jurists, legislators, administrators, or citizens (to mention a few pertinent categories)—in acknowledging that there just might be something beyond the present moment in which a purer form of justice—right relation with one another and right relation with God—is an objective worth seeking through the mechanisms of the law that we help shape and implement.

Considering the holy season in which we find ourselves and our belief in the one who came to save us all, might we be resolved to assist ourselves and others in the pursuit of this truth that is of God and His son? And if this be our resolution, surely the one whom we commemorate and celebrate in the event of Easter may well be disposed to take care of the rest so that the hope and promise of this season is fulfilled and the truth He is will be accepted by more of our fellow pilgrims in this world as we await and prepare for the next.

A blessed Easter to one and all.     RJA sj