Catholicism and the Practice of Law

Another student in my Jurisprudence Seminar wrote:

[T]hroughout my reading of the Compendium in this class, I was so surprised and refreshed by the ideas expressed!  My experiences coming from a Southern Baptist background have been all about fire and brimstone.  Not so with the compendium, it’s very rational and logical thoughts and arguments that hold true to all people, regardless of their religious beliefs.  I found myself asking why other denominations don’t discuss issues the way the compendium does. 

            I think this course really opened up the question of how does Catholic legal thought affect how we practice law?  Law school teaches us to detach ourselves from strong beliefs or opinions, and only look at the issues in a rational and logical manner.  I’ve often compared the rigors of law school to sucking the soul dry.  It tends to make you forget your passions, and beliefs, and why you came to law school to begin with.  I came because I had strong beliefs and wanted to make a difference.  I think Catholic legal thought and the book “Recovering Self-Evident Truths” re-instates those passions that many law school students lose along the way.  It reminded me that the practice of law does not have to be cold and detached, but can be meaningful and pursue ethical goals.  For example, every first year law school student learns in torts that there is no legal duty to save a person from drowning if you have not already undertaken a duty.  But really, is that ethical?  As Abraham Lincoln stated, “Some things legally right are not morally right”.  I believe that Catholic legal thought and this book is trying to teach that just because we may choose to practice law as a profession, it does not mean that we have to accept the black letter law as the final say and not question it.  Perhaps, as an ethical lawyer, we should push to set new precedents that take into account the dignity of every human being and try to impose higher ethical duties within the law.